Seven farming groups have been assisted with water pumping machines, valued at several millions of cedis by the government as a means of not only promoting dry season gardening but encouraging more youth into farming in the Bole District.

The water pumping machines, which are on loan from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), to the selected hard working youth are meant to encourage the youth in the Bole District to take to dry season gardening to improve on their income.

Presenting the items, the District Director of Agriculture, Charles Akanguah, explained that, farmers in the country for the past years have experienced poor rainfall pattern.

To salvage this phenomenon, the government with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation procured the water pumping ma-chines to assist farmers undertake dry season gardening in the district.

He urged the beneficiaries to pay off the cost of the machines promptly to enable others to benefit from the facility.

The District Co-ordinating Director, Mr. Issahaku Basintali, on behalf of the District Chief Exeutive in a speech, said, one of governments main priority areas in developing the country was through Agriculture to boost food production.

He said that, as part of its effort and commitment to increasing food production in the country, governmet had reduced the cost of fertilisers to farmers to enabel them to double their yield.

Credit facilities, and modern farming techniques had also been made available to them to assist them to improve on their yields and lifestyles.

Mr. Basintale, disclosed that farmers in the Bole District this year took advantage of the reduced tractor services as a result of the three tractors released for the district, to increase their farms and were expecting good harvest.

He however, expressed concern about the high rural urban migration among the youth in the District for nor existent jobs.

He hoped that with the supply of the water pumping machines and other governmer interventions, including supply of fertilisers and other farming inputs at subsidised cost, and the Youth Employment Pragramme, the problem will be addressed.

Mr. Basintale urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the machines, by generating more income to improve on their lifestyles and to assist flooding the market with enough food and vegetables especial! during the dry season.