The government of Ghana is set to complete the construction of 9 warehouses across the country in 2021. This is under the “One District One Warehouse” intervention. The Ministry of Agriculture stated that it has completed 21 out of 30 targeted warehouses by the end of 2020.
Similarly, the Budget revealed that the former Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (MSDI) is also constructing 50 warehouses. However, as of the end of 2020, the MSDI had completed the construction of 42 of them. This, according to the government, will together make available 80,000mt of storage capacity in the country. The government expects this to accommodate the anticipated increase in production under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative (PFJ).
Rearing for Food and Jobs Program
Meanwhile, the ministry has procured 531,100 improved breeds of small ruminants, pigs and poultry for distribution to farmers. This is under the Rearing for Food and Jobs Program. Also, the Ministry noted that it has commenced the construction of 11 livestock housing units and mechanized boreholes for seven livestock breeding stations.
The government has promised to continue to drive its Rearing for Food and Jobs Program in 2021. As such, it has pledged to distribute 531,100 improved breeds of small ruminants, pigs and poultry procured to farmers. The government also promised to set up three baling centers, procure 5 million broiler day old chicks, 20,000 kuroiler birds to farmers at a 50% subsidy.
Supply of improved seeds and fertilizers to beneficiary farmers
Moreover, in 2021, the government is set to continue with the supply of improved seeds and fertilizers to beneficiary farmers. The Ministry in Charge of Agriculture believes this will ensure sustained increase in yields of maize, rice, soya, sorghum, cowpea, and groundnut. This, the ministry noted, will make the Country self-sufficient in food production with enhanced potential for export.
Meanwhile, the Ministry noted that it has outlined measures to help farmers access production inputs in order to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on food production. There are also plans to increase the beneficiary target of 1.2 million to 1.4 million farmers across the country.
Furthermore, the Ministry revealed that a total of 1,736,510 farmers benefited from subsidized fertilizers and improved seeds under PFJ program. The ministry added that it has increased the distribution of improved seeds to farmers by 60% between 2019 and 2020. Specifically, the Agriculture Ministry said it has increased the distribution of improved seeds from 18,333MT in 2019 to 29,500MT in 2020.
Fertilizer subsidies to farmers
Similarly, the government has also embarked on a program on organic and inorganic fertilizer subsidies. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, it has increased its distribution of subsidized fertilizers to farmers by 28% between 2019 and 2020. The distribution of organic and inorganic fertilizers rose from 331,354MT in 2019 to 424,000MT in 2020.
A major challenge facing most farmers across the country is insect infestation. Creatures such as army worms and locust cause severe damage to crops which result in huge losses to farmers. As a result, the government is also putting measures in place to control insert infestation in the country. The ministry of agriculture noted that it has procured and sprayed 89,060 Liters and 11,630 kg strategic stocks of insecticides on all land areas affected by the Fall Army Worm (FAW) infestation.
Also, the Agriculture ministry stated that it has sprayed a total of 261,147 hectares of land. The ministry pointed out that as a result of its intervention, it has prevented the loss of about 652,867mt of maize valued at GH¢783,440,400.00.
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