UER MOFA makes frantic efforts to boost agriculture and livelihoods
Mr Francis Ennor, Director of Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA)in Upper East Region has reiterated the commitment of the region to push for food security through sustainable food systems.
To achieve this, he said MoFA was not leaving any stone unturned to ensure that the livelihood of farm households was improved.
Mr Ennor said the implementation of Government’s flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs, rearing for food and Jobs among others were the commitment of resources to the development of the agriculture sector which in no small way served to elevate the livelihoods of the people.
The regional MoFA Director made this known at a durbar marking the 37th Farmers’ Day Celebration on the theme; “Planting for Food and Jobs-Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana”.
He noted that in the 2020 production year a number of interventions by government have helped to position the upper East Region well in terms of food production, which according to him the region received and distributed a total of 1,897,019 bags of inorganic fertilizers and 82.9 tons of improved seeds to 139,548 farmers made up of 101,254 males and 38,294 females.
He explained that a total of 9,000 cockerels and 2,000 sheep were also distributed to 696 farmers including 418 males and 278 females under the Rearing for Food and Jobs model whilst a number of warehouses were constructed.
He said, a total of 431,293 cashew seedlings were raised and distributed to 5,204 farmers involving 3,302 males and 1,902 females.
“It gladdens my heart to state that, the Upper East region has benefited enormously from the government’s lead programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ)- Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ), One District, One Warehouse (1D1W), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) and One Village, One Dam (1V1D) in so many facets”, he said.
He indicated that though farmers have also been sensitized over the years on emergency preparedness and control to mitigate the impact of floods, bushfires, such disasters continue to be a challenge to food production and livelihoods.
He said inadequate support for dry season activities, limited access to agricultural finance were some of the challenges, and urged for work on the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam to be expedited to improve dry season production activities.
