THE Ashanti Regional Officer of the General Agriculture Workers’ Union (GAWU), Mr Clement Alosebuno Kaba, has expressed concern about the operations of agro chemical dealers and food sellers within the same vicinity at the Kajetia lorry terminal.
He explained that the grouping of both agro-chemical dealers and food sellers “very close to each other at the terminal has the tendency of creating health hazards because the chemicals could easily poison the food items most of which are exposed”.
A release signed by Mr Alosebuno Kaba said it was important for the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to appreciate the magnitude of the health hazard being created at the terminal and initiated moves to totally separate the agro chemical dealers from food sellers.
“We are calling on KMA to ensure that agro chemical and food sellers are not located in the same vicinity. Their stores should be in separate areas, especially at Kajetia, because it can lead to contamination and food poisoning ,” he pleaded.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also called on the government to engage more agriculture extension officers and motivate them to advise farmers on how to use modern practices to enhance increased food production and income generation.
He pointed out that because of the wide gap between farmers and extension officers, farmers continue to disregard modern ways of farming.
“There is the need for the government to engage more agric extension staff to bridge the gap between farmers and extension officers because most farmers do not have access to the services of agric extension officers ,” he noted
Explaining further, he said the current ratio of one extension officer to 1500 farmers was very deplorable, saying “normally the ratio should have been one officer to 500 farmers”.
Mr Alosebuno Kaba also pleaded with the government to equip all Agricultural Colleges in the country to enable the colleges “produce highly qualified and well- trained agriculturists”.
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