The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has within this first quarter released an amount of GH¢27.2 million to the agric sector to enable the Ministry of Food and Agriculture achieve its key objective of ensuring food and nutrition security and improved incomes for farmers.

This is made up of GH¢15,170,930.00 for the buffer stock programme, GH¢10,000,000.00 for the fertilizer subsidy programme and GH¢2,084,170.00 for the rehabilitation of a number of dams throughout the country.

The buffer stock programme is aimed at securing sustainable food security to meet our food needs in time of scarcity and also to mob up excess production which could affect price stability and pose a threat to farmers’ income.

As at the end of the first quarter, the rehabilitation of Ghana Food Distribution Corporation (GFDC) facilities at Wenchi in the Brong-Ahafo region had been undertaken.

The fertilizer subsidy programme is aimed at reducing the high production cost burden on the farmers and to ensure that farmers are enabled to apply the right quantity of fertilizer to ensure increased production.

Government is also rehabilitating the Tono Dam, in the Upper East and seven Small Farm irrigation dams in Atwima in Ashanti, Techiman, Asunafo and Wenchi in Brong-Ahafo, Wassa Amenfi and Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region and South Tongu in the Volta Region.

When completed these would lead to an intensification of dry season farming to create sustained job opportunities for the youth.


ISSUED BY ABDUL HAKIM AHMED,
MEDIA LIAISON
MINISTRY OF FINANCE & ECONOMIC PLANNING


THE NEWS EDITOR