25 August,2022
TWMA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN AUGUST 2022
The weather was generally cold with few rains during the latter part of the month.
Activities on-ongoing include;
1. Extension Delivery
a. Home and farm visits
AEAs undertook home and farm visits to deliver new technologies to farmers, FBOs and other clients along the agricultural value chain as well as provide advisory services. There was distribution of free Agrochemicals by the AEAs to the farmers to control FAW and other pests in their various fields.
b. Monitoring and Supervision
The Department of Agriculture undertook three (3) monitoring and supervision visits among which the Municipal Director together with the AEA for Sakumono went on a visit to a Cat fish farmer at his operational Area.
c. Research Extension Linkage Committee (RELC)
RELC is a planning session where actors along the Agricultural Value Chain (Researchers, Farmers, Processors, and Extension Agents etc.) converge to discuss issues pertaining to Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture organized its planning session on 11th August, 2022 at TWMA Assembly Hall. It was attended by sixty-eight (68) participants made up of crops and animal farmers, fish farmers, processors, input dealers and staff. There were 52 males and 16 females. Mrs. Lydia Aku Fiatuho, the Municipal Crops Officer was the MC for the session. Mr. Nicholas Addae, the Regional Extension Officer who is also the RELC Coordinator was the Resource Person and facilitator for the session.
2. Crop Production
a. Harvesting of commodities such as green pepper, bonnet pepper, tomato, lettuce, ayoyo and maize were carried out.
b. Onion, tomato, green pepper, chili pepper among others were transplanted
c. Planting of okra, maize, ayoyo among others were planted.
d. Control of pest and diseases on crops eg FAW.
C. Containerized Gardening
A variety of crops such as okra, cabbage, tomato, chili and bonnet pepper, beetroot, garden eggs, ayoyo, gboma, yellow melon, cocoyam leaves (Kontomire) among others have been planted in the TWMA Premises. The garden is a demonstration site for farmers, staff and individuals to learn and adopt in their various households and fields
d. Raising of Economic Seedling
The Department was able to raise economic trees such as soursap, pomegranate, guava, coconut, mango under the month under review.
d. Raising of Economic Seedling
The Department was able to raise economic trees such as soursap, pomegranate, guava, coconut, mango under the month under review.
3. Disease Surveillance
Veterinary extension agents intensified their sensitization on biosecurity measures among livestock and poultry farmers. Farm animals were also dewormed.
4. Slaughter/meat inspection
Meat inspectors (veterinary officers) at Accra Abattoir carried out meat inspection after slaughtering. Ram, goat, cattle and sheep are charged an amount of GH₡ 125.00, GH₡ 65.00, GH₡300.00 and GH₡105.00 respectively. These monies are paid into the consolidated account. 786 cattle, 3 rams, 2 sheep and 27 goats were slaughtered during the period. Cattle is slaughtered during the night while small ruminants (ram, sheep and goats) are slaughtered during day time.
5. Food Demonstration: Utilization of Local Foods and Value Addition for Income Generation and Nutrition Improvement
The Department of Agriculture organized a food demonstration on utilization of local foods and value addition as an alternative way of generating income and improving household nutrition for a women’s group at Adjei Kojo. The products demonstrated were millet drink baked orange flesh potato cake and doughnut. 37 females made up of processors, marketers and staff participated in the demonstration.
6. Market Survey
Average prices at Texpo Market for commodities such as tomato per bucket ranges from ₵45.00-60.00, cereals such as white maize per olonka is at ₵ 15.00, cowpea ranges from at ₵ 35.00-45.00, plantain for 4 or 5 fingers is at ₵15.00 and ₵ 20.00, tuber of yam ranges from ₵ 17.00 -₵ 25.00, Crates of eggs are being sold at ₵35.00-40.00. Fruits such as pineapple for 3 is sold at 10.00, mango is at 5.00-8.00 whiles sweet potato for 4 is sold at 15.00.