Okapya Livestock Development Centre Manager, Sheuyange Tuhafeni has encouraged northern subsistence cattle farmers to start growing buffalo grass for their cattle instead of buying it from commercial farmers at a high price.

Tuhafeni said during a demonstration to farmers on how to plant buffalo grass at Okapya in the Nehale Lya Mpingana constituency of Oshikoto that buffalo grass is favoured by livestock and farmers lack the knowledge on how to plant and grow it.

‘Our farmers do not invest in growing this grass but it is the favourite of our animals. Instead they buy it from commercial farmers at a high price,’ said Tuhafeni.

He urged local farmers to visit the centre so that they can be trained on how to grow and harvest the buffalo grass. He added that the grass has a lifespan of 40 years and only grows during the rainy season.

One of the objectives of the centre, he noted, is to train indigenous farmers from north of the red line who are not familiar with livestock farming.

‘We focus mostly on livest
ock farming and livestock marketing such as dehorning, castration, animal health, feeding and animal grazing, and train farmers on how to produce animal feed,’ Tuhafeni said.

The centre also works to conserve indigenous cattle such as the Sanga breed, and to train the community in all aspects of farming.

Established in 2015, Okapya Livestock Development Centre falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform to empower formerly disadvantaged communities in terms of farming.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has appealed to the leadership of the New Force Movement, a political movement, to prioritise the welfare of journalists in its policies and programmes.

The GJA mentioned working conditions, remuneration, and safety of journalists as among key issues that should find space in the manifesto of the Movement as it prepared to contest the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President, GJA, made the appeal when Nana Kwame Bediako, leader, New Force Movement and his team paid a courtesy call on the leadership of the GJA in Accra on Tuesday.

The GJA President said low remuneration of journalists was a major concern and called for a national dialogue to discuss measures to improve the working conditions of journalists.

‘Working conditions of Journalists is a collective responsibility. All stakeholders should look at improving the situation to ensure professionalism.

‘Journalists need to be paid well. The media deserve better… journalists deserve good re
muneration,’ he said.

Mr Dwumfour welcomed plans by the New Force Movement to industrialise the country and create jobs, and urged the leadership to stick to the goals and work towards making the country prosperous.

He urged the Movement to support efforts for peaceful elections and maintain positive relationship with the media.

‘We assure you fair, adequate, and unbiased reportage,’ Mr Dwumfour said.

Nana Bediako recently announced his presidential ambition and declared his intention to contest the 2024 presidential election.

During the meeting, Nana Bediako outlined wide ranging measures, focusing on industrialising all regions of the country to create sustainable jobs for the youth.

He promised to introduce what he termed as Industrial Regional Evolution to decentralise industrialisation beyond the Greater Accra Region to cover the 15 other regions.

Nana Bediako said he would create industrial hubs to support the country’s industrialisation agenda and ‘bring speed to the economy’.

He said he would
also invest in railway development to support easy movement of goods and services across the country.

‘We should stop the exploitation of Africa. The youth should gain value from our own resources. As citizens, we are entitled to the usage of our own resources,’ he said.

Touching on his policies for the media, Nana Bediako said he had already established the Ghana Media Fund to support the welfare of journalists.

He said his vision was to see the expansion of Ghana’s media beyond the continent to push the African agenda and promote the interest of the continent.

‘Africa needs to share news among ourselves. The more we do, the more we become successful,’ Nana Bediako said.

Source: Ghana News Agency