The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has presented 40,000 bags of inorganic fertilisers, 5 set of agriculture drones and 500 boxes of organic fertilisers to the Peasant Farmer Association of Ghana to improve production and safeguard food security.
The presentation that took place at the ministry’s forecourt in Accra indicates the government’s keenness to the Feed Ghana Programme to ensure food security in the country.
He mentioned that Feed Ghana is not only about food, rather about confidence, productivity, jobs, import substitution, rural transformation and restoring dignity to farming and making agriculture the engine of national development.
Minister explained that the 40,000 inorganic fertilisers are to supplement the initial fertilisers that have been distributed to the farmers. To disregard any complaint from any farmer of the inability to receive some of the fertilisers, he is adding 40,000 bags.
To ensure equal distribution of the fertilisers to farmers, by Friday the ministry will complete a distribution of 1,500 bags to all 276 constituencies across the country through the District Agricultural Offices and under the Institutional farming scheme, all faith-based organizations and institutions that are registered with the ministry will also be served.
This, he noted is deliberate. It reflects Government’s commitment to fairness and inclusion by all farmers.
Adding to the inorganic fertilizer usage by the farmers, 8,000 cartons of organic fertilizers have been allotted to the various farmer associations, and cooperatives especially the vegetable farmers for organic vegetables production.
According to the Minister, farmers are the central to food security and that the transformation of Ghana’s economy must begin from the soil, from the farm, and from the hardworking of the farmers.
“The future of agriculture will not be built only with the hoe and cutlass. The future of agriculture will also be built with data, drones, improved seeds, fertilisers irrigation, mechanisation, extension, digital advisory services and precision farming tools”, Minister said this acknowledged agritech to make agriculture attractive and improve yields.
He added that over a long period of time, agriculture has been an option, but now agriculture is the sector for the future. It is a sector for technology, investment, science, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The future of agriculture will not be built only with the hoe and cutlass; hence it will be built with data, drones, improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, mechanisation, extension, digital advisory services and precision farming tools.
Transforming Ghana’s agriculture connected to drones, data, enterprise and innovation, is critical to attracting the youth to the sector. Youth would perceive agriculture as a profitable and respectable profession other than punishment.
He extolled Peasant Farmers Association for the relentless advocacy for the smallholder farmers. He urged the association to continue supporting the farmers to address the needs and the concerns.
He admonished the association to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability in their use and distribution for the inputs to reach the expected farmers. Let these inputs reach the intended farmers. Let them support real production. “Let them lead to more acres cultivated, higher yields harvested, better incomes earned and more food on the tables of Ghanaian families”, he added.
The National President of Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Douglas Annor commended the Minister of Agriculture and the government for the generous support to the farmers.
“This support comes at a crucial time and will help farmers improve productivity, enhance soil fertility, adopt modern farming technologies, and contribute to national food security”, he said.
He assured the ministry that the inputs will be distributed and utilized in a transparent, and accountable manner, for the benefit of the genuine farmers.
“We appreciate the government’s commitment to support smallholder farmers and appeal for continual investment in quality seeds, mechanization, irrigation, and sanitary services, and agricultural finances”, he added.
He concluded that PFAG remains committed to working with stakeholders to improve farmers’ labour and advance Ghana’s agricultural development.
