The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Honourable Bryan Acheampong, has announced that beginning on October 10, food grants will be distributed to over 800,000 farmers in the eight regions that are most affected.
During the Minister’s Press Briefing, where he provided an update on the implementation of measures to address the effects of the dry spell in Accra, he made the announcement.
The Minister stated that as part of the government’s relief effort, farmers in the affected areas would receive 25 kilograms of rice and 100 kilograms of maize.
Also, beginning on October 10, “an online grain market is being established to allow the public to conveniently purchase maize and rice at affordable prices,” Hon. Acheampong stated,
He added that the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP) will handle the distribution of food grants and inputs, ensuring transparency and accountability.
He made the remark that “a team of 3,000 personnel has been deployed nationwide to register farmers and ensure that no one is left out of the relief programs.”
The Minister went on to say that when it comes to long-term solutions, the government wants to keep investing in agricultural resilience, particularly in long-term grain storage and irrigation.
He emphasized the significance of the Planting for Food and Jobs Phase 2 initiative to the nation’s future food security.
He emphasized,
“The Government has committed to an annual irrigation investment of GHS 3 billion over the next decade, alongside a goal of increasing grain storage capacity by 100,000 metric tons per year for the next 16 years”
Bryan Acheampong expressed his appreciation to all parties involved, including the World Bank, ECOWAS, and partners in the local community, for their assistance in dealing with the crisis.
“The dry spell underscores the importance of long-term agricultural planning and investments. The government, with support from international partners, is committed to ensuring our farmers are equipped to withstand future shocks”, the Minister of Food and Agriculture said.
He promised that the government’s response would likely stabilize the food supply and provide farmers with much-needed relief in the coming months.
