President Nana Akufo-Addo is scheduled to launch his government’s Planting for Food and Jobs programme meant to stimulate agricultural production while creating jobs for the youth.
The launch is scheduled for 19 April in the Brong Ahafo Region.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, on Wednesday, 29 March. He said: “The programme is starting with the selection of 200,000 farmers in all the 216 districts of this country.”
In a presentation at a symposium organised by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Private Enterprise Federation (PEF) on the 2017 budget and economic plan, Dr Afriyie Akoto said the ministry had chosen five strategic crops: maize, rice, soya, sorghum and vegetables for the 2017 programme. More crops are expected to be added in subsequent years.
The programme aims to provide farmers with improved seeds and supply fertilisers at subsided prices for improved yields. Farmers under the programme will benefit from extension services as well.
A total of GHS560million has been earmarked for the programme with expected revenue of GHS1.3billion.
Source: Ghana/AccraFM.com
