A fertiliser boom is breaking out across Africa as calls for food security gain momentum amidst a widespread continental food crisis.
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Safeguard Ghana’s reputation: Agric Minister to Agric students to study in Israel.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto has admonished students from agricultural institutions and universities embarking on an internship programme to Israel to work hard and protect the country’s image.
He advised the students to stay true to the programme and not abscond when they get to Israel but use the opportunity given them to work hard and establish themselves on their return to Ghana.
He made this comment at an orientation session for Agric students selected for an 11-month intensive practical agricultural training.
As part of the programme, students would visit farmlands and other agricultural establishments in Israel to learn practical knowledge of the Israeli agriculture system.
Agrostudies is an Israeli programme which offers apprenticeship that focuses on agriculture capacity building and promotes food security.
The exchange programme forms part of the government’s move to modernize agriculture and boost the sector for sustainable growth.
The exchange programme is a collaboration between the government of Ghana’s Ministry of Food & Agriculture and the State of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As part of the exchange programme, the beneficiaries will be paid a monthly allowance which they are expected to save to enable them to kick start their own Agribusiness upon their return
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Planting for Food and Jobs Programme has failed – GAWU takes a jab at Agric Minister.
The General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) has taken a swipe at the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, over assertions that the ¢2.6 billion injected into the Planting for Food and Jobs Programe has yielded the desired results.
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There is enough food in the country – the Association of Concerned Farmers has assured.
The Association of Concerned Farmers has assured the general public that there is enough food in the country. This was said after the association embarked on an initiative dubbed; “identification of community challenges”, where they toured farming communities to engage farmers following complaints from the public about the increasing prices of food in the country.
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GH¢50bn worth of farm produce has been generated from PFJ – Agric Minister.
The ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ Programme has generated ¢50 billion cedis worth of farm produce since its inception, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has pointed out.
Speaking at the launch of the 38th Farmers’ Day Celebration, Dr. Akoto emphasised that the ¢2.6 billion investment made by the government has yielded the expected results.
“In the five years of Planting for Food and Jobs, the government has invested ¢2.6 billion to subsidise just two inputs; improved seeds and fertilisers. If you convert this at the exchange rate existing at the time, it should be about $450 million. And what did we get out of the farmers from this?”
“If you multiply the prices with the quantities, this $2.6-billion investment generated ¢50 billion worth of farm produce for this country”.
This year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration will be held in the Eastern region.
Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, said his outfit is honoured to host the event as the region is one of the largest producers of staple crops in the country.
“We in the Eastern Region are strategically positioned to grow, develop and lead the industrialisation agenda. The theme for this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration, “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition” has all the essential ingredients in our Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair and our concept will seriously be outdoor in this event”.
“On behalf of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, the Chiefs and people of the region, we wholeheartedly accept to host this year’s Farmers’ Day Celebration,” he pointed out.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Yaw Frimpong Addo highlighted some benefits sponsors of the Farmers’ Day will enjoy.
“In the platinum package, sponsor get to enjoy these; acknowledgement in the media, advertisement of company’s logo at the durbar ground for the telecast, advertisement of company’s logo in event brochure, full page print company advert with felicitation messages to farmers and fishers in the National Farmers’ Day brochure and branding some of the sections of the principal route and outside perimeter of the durbar ground,” he listed.
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Weija River is polluted with fecal matter – MD of Ghana Water Company Limited.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Dr. Clifford Braimah, has bemoaned the pollution of water bodies across the country.
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Chief of Sefwi Elubo and brother arrested over ‘galamsey’ activities.
The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested the chief of Sefwi Elubo and his brother “in connection with illegal mining”.
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‘Smugglers Paradise’ exposes customs officers aiding smugglers to loot over ¢300m of vegetable cooking oil at borders.
JoyNews will on Monday, September 19, release yet another riveting exposé on how some senior customs officials connive with smugglers to transport thousands of gallons of vegetable cooking oil from Togo and Cote d’Ivoire.
These commodities are dumped across markets in Tamale and Sampa in the Northern and Bono regions, respectively.
It is a billion-dollar smuggling business involving a cartel with mastery in bribery and customs officials who are influenced and deeply complacent.
It is estimated that the state is losing ¢300 million in taxes every year if the smugglers bring in 5,000 metric tonnes of cooking oil.
‘Smugglers Paradise’ will name the customs officials involved, and unveil the smugglers, dealers and the dangerous unapproved routes they use.
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Are the smallholder farmers in Africa a scam?
Many publications on several billions of dollars are being invested into Africa’s food systems by several international organizations and financial institutions, but do these funds and resources truly get to them?
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19,000 hectares of cocoa farmlands are now illegal mining sites – Cocobod.
The country has lost 19,000 hectares of cocoa farmlands to illegal mining, according to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
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