Gov’t Spent ¢1bn Subsidizing Seeds and Fertilizers – Agric Minister

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has revealed that about ¢1 billion was spent on subsidizing seeds and fertilizers under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative in 2020.

Barely two months after the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, there was a shortage of seedlings, but government had to turn to Burkina Faso for help at the time, he stressed.

At the launch of the 37th edition of National Farmers’ Day, Dr. Afriyie Akoto indicated that the well-being of farmers is a priority to government despite the financial challenge.

He further shamed ‘nay sayers’ and assured of abundant food in the coming year.

“As we think of how to increase support to farmers, the National Farmers’ Day celebration should give some assurance to farmers that they will remain a priority in our quest to catalise the modernization of agriculture to boost Ghana’s socio-economic development. This is evidence of government’s commitment to supporting farmers, particularly smallholder farmers. In 2020, government spent nearly a billion cedis to subsidise seeds and fertilisers alone,” he disclosed.

Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Moses Anim reiterated his outfit’s commitment to sanitise the fisheries sector.

According to him, the pandemic [Covid-19] necessitated a deliberation that led to the formation of some policies to improve the sector.

“The ministry is poised to sanitise the fisheries sector and ensure that the enormous potentials are fully explored. We can all attest to the fact that the Covid-19 post era has enabled discussions and learning among stakeholders from the crisis to improve the sustainability and resilience of fisheries. The outcome of some of these engagements must be put through the action of policy formulation and implementation with full commitment by government,” he stated.

This year’s National Farmers’ Day will be held in the Central Region.

According to the Regional Minister, Justina Assan, the hosting of the event in the Central region this year comes at the appropriate time as her jurisdiction recently got a grip of the Planting for Food and Jobs.

“This year’s celebration in the region came at a time when the region is actively participating in the Planting for Food and Jobs which has benefitted a number of farmers in the region. The 37th Farmers Day celebration which will be held in the region has the ability to harness the numerous potentials by boosting the local economy of the region,” she said.