The Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Afriyie Akoto has touted the success of the Planting for Food and Job policy introduced by the government in 2017.
According to him, the policy has enhanced food security in the country and created job opportunities.
“Since 2017, we have seen an increase in growth and production figures particularly in maize and rice.”
Dr Afriyie Akoto stated that the rising food inflation in the country is not due to the unavailability of food but rather due to high transportation costs and profiteering by some traders.
“The rising food prices in urban markets is not an indication of unavailability of food in the country. The high prices are attributed to high transport costs and excess profit by traders” the Minister said
This, he said, has necessitated PFJ market intervention in parts of the country to facilitate the transportation of food to urban areas at relatively cheap prices for consumers. He however added the PFJ market is a temporal intervention which is not to compete with the traditional markets.
He said this Tuesday, November 29, 2022, in Koforidua, Eastern region during the opening of the 4-day Agric Exhibition Fair as part of the National Farmers Day Celebration to be hosted in the region on December 2, 2022. PFJM market was also opened alongside.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture was hopeful the exhibition Fair will provide a platform for actors in the agric sector to showcase their products and innovative Services, and strike important investment and trading partnership deals and opportunities. He, therefore, directed that the fair must be held twice a year in all regions.
The Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Moses Anim said the government is aware that annual domestic production and imports of fish are not able to meet fish consumption demand in the country therefore various interventions are being implemented to address the deficit in the country.
He mentioned among others that, the Ghana national aquaculture development plan 2023 to 2027 for instance seeks to accelerate aquaculture development whilst ensuring environmental sustainability and ensure availability with competitive prices.
He said efforts are also being intensified to combat illegal and unregulated fishing activities in the country’s sustainability.
The Omanhene of New Juaben Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III who was a guest speaker commended the government for implementing the Planting for food and jobs policy which has boosted the agric sector.
He however called on the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce more innovative interventions to add value addition to agric products to infuse the diversified income of farmers.
Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong was hopeful the exhibition fair will reinforce the Eastern commodity market program to provide an opportunity for actors in the agric value chain to interface with investors and consumers.
The Minister pointed out that, the Eastern Region is endowed with a unique diversity in terms of the agroecological zones, and vegetation and also contributes greatly to the food basket of the nation.
“The region grows almost all the staple crops in commercial quantities. It will interest you to know that, over the past four years, the region has been the leading producer of Cassava, second in the production of Maize third and fourth in Plantain and Yam, respectively. It is, therefore, not out of place for the region to host the day, instituted to recognize and honour the tireless efforts of farmers who continue to feed our growing population, providing raw materials for industries and contributing substantially to our nation’s foreign exchange earnings and job creation”.
Source: Mybrytnewsroom.com/Obed Ansah
