British Envoy pledges support for smallholder farmers

The British High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Jon Benjamin, has assured smallholder farmers of his government’s commitment to fighting poverty in rural communities in Ghana.He said Britain would contribute her part in the fight against poverty to improve the living conditions of the rural people.Mr Benjamin gave the assurance during a meeting with two farmer groups at Zorbogu, a farming community 18 kilometres east of Tamale in the Northern Region.The meeting was part of the High Commissioner’s three-day maiden official tour of the region.These groups are part of DFID/ MADE and SIFA Agro Trade Investment Company Limited support partnership which supports 3,500 smallholder rice farmers with capacity building in modern agricultural practices.‘’Our focus is the North and we are committed to the fight against poverty in rural communities to provide a brighter future for these kids seated here with us’’ he said.Responding to a comment from a woman farmer that she gave her children out for marriage at 15years, the High Commissioner urged women farmers against giving out their children for early marriages since that had the potential of retarding development and increasing poverty in the area. ‘’ I got married at 50 so please do not give your children out at 15 years it will affect the fight against poverty’’.The informal interactive session provided the women farmers with the opportunity to explain their experiences to Mr Benjamin, especially in the areas of baby care and farming.Mr Sumani Iddrisu, a 52-year-old farmer and chairman of Gbubdanda Farmer Group in the village commended the DFID/MADE –SIFA Agro Trade collaboration for enhancing their capacity in modern agronomic practices. ‘’The improved seed supplied to us by SIFA is a good support because initially, we recycled our old produce as seed and did not get good yields’’ Sumani Iddrisu said.