Agriculture

800,000 farmers to benefit from food grants from October 10 – Agric minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has announced the distribution of food grants to over 800,000 farmers in the eight regions most affected by the recent dry spells.

He indicated the distribution of the food grants will begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

He made the announcement at the Minister’s Press Briefing, delivering an update on the implementation of measures to address the effect of the dry spell, in Accra, Tuesday, October 1.

The minister stated that farmers in the affected regions would receive 25kg of rice and 100kg of maize as part of the government’s relief effort.

“Additionally, an online grain market is being set up to allow the public to conveniently purchase maize and rice at affordable prices starting October 10,” Dr Acheampong said.

He added that the distribution of inputs and food grants will be managed through the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP), ensuring transparency and accountability.

“A team of 3,000 personnel has been deployed nationwide to register farmers and ensure no one is left out of the relief programmes,” he noted.

On long-term solutions, the minister added that the government was calling for continued investment in agricultural resilience, with a focus on irrigation and long-term grain storage.

He emphasised that the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase 2 initiative will be crucial in safeguarding the country’s future food security.

“The government has committed to an annual irrigation investment of GHS3 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,” he stressed.

Dr Bryan Acheampong expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including the World Bank, ECOWAS, and local partners, for their support in addressing 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.

The government’s response, he assured, was expected to provide much-needed relief to farmers and stabilize food supply in the coming months.

Source: classfmonline.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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