ASSEMBLY INITIATES MANGO EXPORT PROJECT (PAGE 51, AUGUST 12, 2010)

THE Wa West District Assembly has initiated a project under which 20,000 exotic mangoes are to be cultivated, interspersed with sunflower for export.
The project, which is expected to cover about 200 acres, is being financed by the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) at a cost of GH¢260,000.
About 200 farmers from the Dorimon and Wechiau Traditional areas are expected to benefit from the project.
The Wa District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Seidu Tungbani, announced this when the Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Issahaku Salia, paid a working visit to the district.
“Because we have two paramountcies in this district, we have decided that 100 of the farmers will come from Dorimon, while the other 100 come from Wechiau, the district capital,” he explained.
He said each farmer would be entitled to an acre of land.
Mr Tungbani further explained that the funds would go into the preparation of the land, the laying of service pipes and support structures, the purchase of a tractor and accessories, mango seedlings, weedicides, insecticides, as well as other farming implements.
To ensure the successful implementation of the project and for the farmers to have a feeling of it, the DCE said a management team made up of some selected farmers had been set up to effectively manage the project.
Addressing heads of departments later at the district assembly hall, the DCE expressed his gratitude to members of the assembly and the heads of departments for the level of co-operation accorded him since he assumed office and urged them to keep it up.
Alhaji Salia commended the heads of departments and members of the assembly for working to bring the district and the entire region that far.
He appealed to them to exercise restraint, as the government was on track in working to bring development to the people.
Alhaji Salia and his entourage also called on the Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, Naa S. D. Gore, at his palace, where the regional minister called for the support of the chiefs, saying he would not hesitate to seek their advice and suggestions.