<<Print>>

The first major rain in the Ho Municipality Tuesday morning after months of dryness was enough for farmers whose farm lands are in waterlogged areas to sow maize and beans. The amount of rain for the day measured 23.6 millimetres, the Ho Municipal Meteorological Station told the Ghana News Agency. Mr Raymond Atutornu, Crops Officer, Ho Municipal Directorate of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) told the Ghana News Agency that maize and beans planted in waterlogged areas would be ready for harvesting by mid-March and early April before the major rains set in. He however warned that the early maize crops risked being invaded by birds and rodents for lack of food due to several months of dryness. Mr Atutornu said the timing of land preparation and sowing depended on whether farm lands are in waterlogged areas, pure savannah, savannah woodland, or forest so that planting could be completed between March and April. Mr Felix Agbenyega, Municipal Extension Officer of MOFA, said uncontrolled bushfires in the Ho Municipal area needed to be addressed by punitive measures because the solution to the problem has defied public education. He said every patch of grass in and around the municipality has been burnt with dire consequences for soil fertility and preservation of essential medicinal plants, microorganisms and herbs which are essential in soil enrichment.