The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association has acquired a 20- hectare land in the Sekyere-Afram Plains District of Ashanti, for commercial farming.

The Association says the initiative will promote agriculture and also create harmony between the media and farmers through collaboration.

The Sekyere-Afram Plains area, considered the food-basket of the region has vast land begging to be utilized.

The 20-hectare land situated at the Wenamda area closed to the Wiribon stream, is not only good for vegetable farming but also for maize cultivation because of its proximity to an irrigation dam there.

The GJA hopes to encourage its members to specialize agriculture reporting alongside direct farming in order to lead the crusade of promoting the sector.

There are concerns farming, which provide livelihood for more than 70 per cent of Ghanaians, is faced with challenges especially as active youth abandon it.

Regional GJA Chairman, Listowell Yesu Bukarson, tells Nhyira Fm the association will start with maize and vegetable cultivation.

“It would be a source of income to the association. We thought that it was prudent; number one, as media practitioners to be able to be identified with farming so that we get to understand what it is that goes into farming; it helps us to be able to write a report in detail about farming so that we be able to help our farmers across the country”. He explained.

Meanwhile, the Sekyere-Afram Plains District Assembly says it seeks to take advantage of partnership with such groups as the GJA, to promote agribusiness in the area.

Chief Executive Officer, Donkor Fuseini is hopeful the presence of journalists will give the assembly opportunity to link up with possible investors into the agric sector.

“Once the journalists are here, they are the best people to tell our stories for us. The whole world would hear that this district is endowed with agric potentials”. Mr. Fuseini said.

Meanwhile, the assembly has earmarked 1000-hectare land at Fumsua for cassava cultivation and another at Dagomba area for groundnut to feed Gari Processing   and Groundnut Paste factories respectively.