A fifty-two year old farmer has met his untimely death in Atobriso No. 2, a farming community in the Kwaebibirem municipality of the Eastern region while preparing a piece of land for okro production.
He was preparing a piece of land for dry season okro production but met his untimely death when he set fire into the weed debris on the land.
According to sources close to the deceased, the farmer went to the farm with his wife-to-be to clear the land. After clearing the land, they set fire into the debris to make their work easy but the fire extended to a nearby cocoa farm.
The troubled farmer tried to control the fire from entering the cocoa farm but rather found himself caught up in the blazing fire. Efforts by the Wife-to-be to get help proved futile as the farmer was already dead before any help could arrive.
The district command of the Ghana Police Service in Akyem Asuom was informed and the remains have since been deposited at the Kade Government hospital pending post-mortem examination.
The Assembly member of the Atobriso electoral area, Hon. James Akwetey Dapaah, cautioned the community members, especially farmers, to be wary of the harmattan season and the dangers it pose to farmers and the community as a whole. He also encouraged them to create fire belt as buffer zone around their farm lands anytime they want to practice the slash and burn method of cultivating their crops. “At the moment we are all in sorrow for the loss of our dear farmer but let’s all take a great caution from what has happened – he said.
The whole country is experiencing the annual season of harmattan which usually lasts for five month starting November and ending March every year. Therefore our gallant farmers and everyone should be cautious when dealing with fire. Hunters, palm wine tappers, farmers and other fire related activities are key causes of bush fire in many places. Let’s all be vigilant and protect the natural resources from bush fire destruction.
Abass Iddrisu; Agric and Rural Development Journalist – Agrictoday.com.gh
