Mr. George Agyeman-Duah, Kwaebibirem District Chief Executive, on Friday urged farmers in the area to form associations to enable them to determine better prices for their produce and to procure farming inputs at reasonable cost.
He asked them to seek the services of Agricultural Extension Officers, researchers and other stakeholders in technology transfer, to maximize yield.
Mr Agyeman-Duah was speaking at a day's workshop, organised by the Research Extension Farmer Linkage Committee in the district and brought together stakeholders, to discuss the development of agriculture in the area.
He observed that about 55 per cent of Ghana's productive population was involved in agriculture compared to about three to six per cent in the United State and Britain.
Mr Agyeman-Duah said those countries were able to feed their people and exported surplus food to other countries.
He urged farmers to apply improved agricultural practices to increase yield and reduce poverty among them.
Mr Agyeman-Duah asked the participants to come out with scientific solutions to problems facing the agriculture.
He advised the farmers to combine livestock farming with oil palm plantation and use waste products from processed oil palm to feed animals.
On orange production, he called for the elimination of fruit fly which was causing a reduction in yield in the citrus industry.
Mr Edward Kofi Ametepe, Kwaebibirem District Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture, appealed to government to provide adequate funds for research into agriculture.
Dr George Okyere-Boateng, Regional Co-ordinator of the Committee, called on farmers and researchers to work together to develop agriculture.