Inadequate rainfall affects citrus farms in Akuapem
Citrus farmers in the Akuapem North Municipality in the Eastern Region are counting their losses following the withering of their crops as a result of inadequate rains.
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The situation has affected the livelihood of the farmers who are now looking for alternative source of income.
In all, over 40 farms, totalling about 150 acres, have been affected with Konko Farms being the worst hit. The other affected farms include Koranteng farms and Vida - Humphrey Farms.
Erratic rainfall
The Daily Graphic learnt during a visit to the farms that for over six months now, there had not been rains in the area. Trees such as oil palm that started fruiting could not survive due to the lack of rain water.
Conducting this reporter round the farms, the managing director of Konko Farms, Mr Stephen Agyeman, said the situation was a big blow to farmers in the Konko Community.
According to him, this was the first time in 30 years that they had experienced such calamity. As a result, he claimed he was finding it difficult to repay loans taken to start the farms which had started fruiting after three years of investment.
"This is a disaster for me because it had become expensive to maintain farms in the country. Apart from the various women groups who buy from me I have 15 workers, and all these people have been affected in one way or the other", he added.
Appeal
He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to come to the aid of citrus farmers in the area since some of them owed the banks.
Another farmer, Mr Joseph Adu Tawiah, complained of illegal lumbering activities in the area and called on the Forestry Commission to put measures in place to arrest those involved in such nefarious acts.
"It is now difficult for farmers to pay their wards, school fees. Since agriculture is the mainstay of the country, the government must come in to support us to re-establsih our farms", he also appealed.