Food and Agriculture Minister, Bryan Acheampong, opened up about the government’s meticulous planning to cushion the agricultural sector from the impacts of the dry spell experienced this year.
The dry spell, which many feared would trigger a food crisis, was anticipated and accounted for well before it struck.
“We knew about the dry spell and had projected its impact as far back as February,” Bryan Acheampong revealed, underscoring the Ministry’s proactive stance in mitigating the effects of the adverse weather conditions.
“We’ve been working to ensure that if it did happen, we would not feel that much of an effect on our food systems,” he said in a recent interview on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition.
The Minister explained that the Ministry implemented a strategic action plan to support Ghanaian farmers and safeguard the country’s food security.
He credited this early planning for the stability in food prices, particularly in a year when a significant drought could have had devastating consequences.
“It is not something that just dropped out of the sky; it’s something that we planned for, and we are beginning to see the fruits of it,” he said.
October is usually a critical month for the arrival of grains from the northern regions on the market.
Bryan Acheampong acknowledged that while maize prices had risen due to lower production during the dry spell, other staple food prices had remained stable or even decreased, thanks to the Ministry’s efforts.
“By now, the northern grains should have been on the market. It is not so, but the price of food should have been way through the roof.
“Yet, there’s a lot of food on the market,” he remarked, citing stable prices for staples such as plantain, tomatoes, and cassava.
The Minister further stated that while the maize market faced challenges, the overall food supply remained resilient due to the Ministry’s interventions.
“Except for maize, every other staple that we consume, the price is either coming down or has been relatively stable,” Bryan Acheampong noted.
He also mentioned that the Ministry is working hard to contain the maize price increase by ensuring that enough supplies enter the market.
