Producers advocate for improved facility at Atebubu yam market

An advocacy programme designed to bring on board all stakeholders responsible for the improvement of the infrastructure at the Atebubu yam market has begun.

Lack of drainage system has rendered greater portion of the market waterlogged making it completely difficult for traders to do business.

To address the challenge, the BUSAC Fund with support from DANIDA, DFID and EU had engaged the Atebubu Co-operative Yam Producers and Marketing Society Ltd in an advocacy activity to equip them with the skills and knowledge to win support from key stakeholders to improve the infrastructural situation at the market.

Already, the 250 members of the society have completed training in effective advocacy, research and sensitization skills and are preparing to undertake media advocacy, dialogue and post dialogue activities.

The society believed that with a well-constructed drainage system, construction of market stalls, sheds and warehouse coupled with sanitation and lighting facilities, the yam market could help farmers, traders and the Atebubu-Amantim district assembly to generate massive revenue for the good of the area.

Mr. Yaw Adu, the chairman of the Society commended the BUSAC Fund for the support which he hoped would yield positive results.

According to him when the infrastructure at the market is improved, it would enhance their activities and thereby improve income levels of both farmers and traders as well as revenue of the assembly.

Mr. Adu said lack of drainage system had turned the market into ponds of water with traders and truck pushers struggling for space to do their business.

“The problem is compounded by lack of sanitation facilities and sheds at the market and members of the society are losing income greatly as patronage continue to go down as a result of the deplorable state of the market”, the chairman said.

Mr. Adu therefore appealed to the assembly and other development partners to assist in developing the market to a standard that would guarantee an all-year-round trading activity.

Source: GNA