The Aveyime National Cattle Ranch in the North-Tongu District is in crisis. Water and electricity supplies to it have stopped five years ago, and the vehicles used to run the ranch have broken down, while the 22 workers have not been paid their salaries for the past 38 months. Mr Jeremiah Asigbe, Manager of the Ranch, made the revelation when a team led by Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister paid a familiarization visit to the ranch last Friday. He said the ranch began to face difficulties as foreign financial involvement stopped as government was also not forthcoming with support, resulting in the worsening of the situation in the past five years. “This is an ideal resource centre for cattle production to enhance income and meat supply”, Mr Asigbe said. He said the animal stock on the ranch has declined from about 2000 in 1988 to about 346 currently. The ranch was established in 1973, with support from the Italian government to produce genetically superior breed, to help improve the local breed. Mr Asigbe said to prevent a total collapse of the ranch, some of the animals were sold off to raise funds to run it as well as meet some financial demands from families of the workers. He therefore appealed to government to make arrangements for a quick bail out for the ranch. Mr Amenowode described the plight of the ranch and its workers as miserable and promised to convey his findings to the higher authorities. Source: GNA