Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has affirmed the commitment of the Nana Akufo-Addo administration to the introduction of measures to improve the agriculture sector and guarantee food security while making life better for farmers.
In line with this, he said government will continue to provide the necessary agricultural inputs such as fertilisers and Extension Services while working to reduce post-harvest losses.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia gave the assurance when he commissioned a 1,000 tonne warehouse at Asaam near Mampong in the Ashanti region on Monday.
The Asaam warehouse is one of 80 warehouses being constructed across the country under the One District One, Warehouse programme, to complement the hugely successful Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
Designed to store the abundant food produced during its season and reduce post-harvest losses, the warehouses are also designed to support agro-processing factories established under the One District One Factory initiative.
Vice President emphasised government’s focus on the agriculture sector.
“Our record of innovation since we assumed office in 2017 is there for all to see. We have introduced flagship programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs. We have ensured the regular supply of inputs like fertilizers and seeds to farmers. Cocoa farmers are enjoying enhanced prices for their labour.
“This warehouse, and others like this across the country, will ensure that your hard work and sweat does not go to waste. Excess food will be stored here for use in the lean season.
“We will continue to implement programmes that will make agriculture attractive to the youth, and diversify the agriculture value chain,” he pledged.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s (MoFA) statistics had shown that at least 30 per cent of farm produce in the country is lost annually through post-harvest losses, a situation which reduces the incomes of farmers.
This tends to make farming unattractive, and also inhibits efforts at ensuring food security while perpetuating poverty amongst a significant number of Ghanaian farmers.
According to the Vice-President, significant progress had been made by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in delivering on its campaign promises to make life better for farmers.
He said the country’s economy which was agro-based was being expanded through the requisite investment in agriculture, to create more job opportunities for the people.
Nana Nyamaa Sarfo Sipong Panin II, the Chief of Asaam, said Asante-Mampong and its environs were noted for their high production of grains and other staple crops.
Therefore, the project had come at the appropriate time when many farmers were grappling with food losses due to the unavailability of storage facilities, he added.
