NSS management presents drone to Ejura Farm

The management of the National Service Secretariat (NSS) has presented a drone to the Ejura maize farm cultivated by the Service Personnel in the Ashanti Region to facilitate the application of fertiliser and weed control.

Mr. Mustapha Usif, Executive Director of the National Service Secretariat, at the presentation, explained that the aim was to support the Regional Directorate with the drone to boost yields.

According to him, the personnel were able to cultivate about a 100 acres of maize in the major season, and hundred acres in the minor season, constituting a bumper harvest to support the Free Senior High School policy and School Feeding Programme.

He hoped the high yields would go a long way to complement the President’s Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.

He stated that in subsequent years they would venture into crop rotation methods, and venture into the cultivation of Cowpea in the main season, while maize would be cultivated in the minor season.

He disclosed that there was an introduction of a new agriculture module – Entrepreneurship and Innovation – under which young graduate farmers process feeds and animals droppings for use as fertilisers. This module, he said, would give service personnel the opportunity to have practical experience in farming throughout the value chain.

Mr. Alex Opoku Mensah, Ashanti Regional Director of the Secretariat, expressed his profound gratitude to the management for being always supportive, especially in the provision of the drone, which could work on 20 to 30 acres daily.

He assured the management to use the equipment judiciously to serve the intended purpose to meet their expected target and realisation of President Akufo-Addo’s vision in supporting the Free Senior High School policy and School Feeding programme, and export to neighbouring countries.

Dr. Sagre Bambang, Deputy Minister of Agriculture in-charge of Animal and Crops, commended the Secretariat, especially the Service Personnel, and entreated those gainfully employed in private and public institutions to venture into food production to enhance food security and feeding ourselves as a country, and to reduce poultry importation.

Mr. Kwaku Ohene Djan advised the youth to take advantage of the government’s policies to venture into agriculture through the NSS, in collaboration with National Youth Employment Authority (NYEA) and Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) for GH¢200,000 support capital to start their business.

The post NSS management presents drone to Ejura Farm appeared first on The Chronicle Online.

Read Full Story