Tanyigbe, Dec 3, GNA—-Mr Divine Bosson, Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) has said efforts to promote resilient production of diverse crops, livestock, and fisheries through sustainable and land-sparing strategies that ensure food safety has been activated by the government.
He said under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) government was ready to build strong and resilient food supply chains, to improve and implement policies and regulatory measures among actors that promote extensive use of digital technologies that enhance access to extension, finance, mechanised services, and markets.
Mr Bosson said these during the Ho Municipal version of the National Farmers’ and Fishers’ day activities at Tanyigbe.
The theme, “Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs): Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana,” reflects the important role of the agricultural sector in national development and food security.
He called on the private sector to complement the government’s efforts in transforming the agricultural sector for higher productivity by investing more in the sector.
The MCE said under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs), the government has supplied improved and certified seeds and subsidised fertilizers with a total of 1,793 maize farmers and 197 vegetable farmers in the Municipality have been served.
He said some 12,291 bags of NPK were supplied to 2,029 farmers, with 800 bags of Urea given to 448 farmers with 12,000 litres of liquid fertilizers benefiting 80 farmers.
He said the escalating prices of fertilizers was global phenomenon as the input dealers were no longer getting the products on credit, especially fertilizers.
Mr Bosson said since 2017, the government has made efforts to reduce the cost of production of farmers through the input substitution programme from which the Ho Municipal Assembly has significantly benefited.
He said the Assembly would stop at nothing to explore and exploit ways to better a lot of farmers and fishers.
He announced that the next farming season would welcome the plantain and cashew nursery for supply to farmers to increase acreages of production in that sector.
He said according to the 2017 Global Food Security Index, though the country was classified under the most secure countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, it is still overwhelmed and saddled with the double burden of malnutrition with stunting levels at 19 per cent under five years and obesity at 29.3 per cent of the population and called for all to come on board to reverse the trend.
The MCE mentioned other key food security challenges in the country to include sub-optimal staple food production, characterised by climate change with unpredictable rainfall patterns and declining soil fertility, most of these he said are self-inflicted.
He said the annual ritual of bushfires has affected crop yields and appealed to farmers to desist from the practice.
Mr Bosson commended farmers and fishers for feeding the nation even in the COVID-19 pandemic and promising the Assembly’s support at all times.
Mr Mawuli Amenyoame, 52, was adjudged the district best farmer and received a tricycle among other agricultural inputs.
Present was Mr Benjamin Kpodo, Ho Central Member of Parliament, and others.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Add Comment