Agric Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has disclosed that GH₵2.6 billion has so far been invested into government’s flagship programme in Agriculture, Planting for Food and Jobs.
According to him, this investment has yielded the needed result since the programme has been a success.
“I am happy to say that Planting for Food and Jobs has been totally funded by the Ghanaian taxpayer. This is a purely Government of Ghana-funded programme except for the Canadians who came in with some vehicles and logistics for our extension offices and the Ghanaian taxpayer’s money has been to the tune of GH₵2.6 billion in the 5 years.
Speaking on the Super Morning Show, on Wednesday, June 22, he stated that “regionally, the 5 northern regions have benefitted to the tune of 57% of this money and farmers in this country have delivered.
Further, he indicated that the over GH₵2 billion investment into the PFJ programme has yielded returns of about GH₵50 billion worth of Food, thus, refuting claims of food shortage in the country.
“The policy has really benefited Ghanaians [and] we have never been able to produce so much food than we are doing now. Last year we produced 3.1m metric tonnes and that’s huge within the period it was achieved… [and] anyone who says there is a food shortage in the country does not know what he is talking about,” he added.
Touting the achievements of the Akufo-Addo-led administration in the Agric sector, he scored the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs policy a 100% and said the impact of the policy on Ghana’s agricultural sector has been phenomenal.
“Going back into the history of government expenditure, there’s no government that has spent so much on Agriculture and farmers as the Akufo-Addo government and has had this magnificent impact and it has been internationally acknowledged that this [PFJ] program is running successfully.
He added that the Planting for Food and Job policy, despite its challenges, has enabled Ghana’s agriculture industry to be ahead of all the others in the ECOWAS region.
Latest Stories
-
Growing resilient MSMEs in Africa for a sustainable future
10 mins -
Let’s preach environmental responsibility in churches, mosques – Annoh-Dompreh
13 mins -
GPL ’21/22: Lots of final day games were fixed – Albert Commey
18 mins -
World Bank Open Budget Survey: Ghana ranked 2nd in Sub-Saharan Africa
20 mins -
Asenso-Boakye discusses sustainable urbanization with UN-Habitat chief
23 mins -
‘E-levy not a bad tax; Ghanaians just don’t want to pay taxes’ – Gabby Otchere-Darko
34 mins -
Traders and transport operators give government feedback on mitigation measures
43 mins -
Toxic gas leak kills 13, injures hundreds at Jordan’s Aqaba port
1 hour -
Ofori-Atta has not indicated need to seek economic support from IMF – Oppong Nkrumah
1 hour -
Estate of late photographer files Lawsuit against Universal Music Group over 2Pac photo
1 hour -
Withdraw E-Levy; Ghanaians don’t like it – Bokpin
1 hour -
Texas migrant deaths: At least 46 found dead in abandoned lorry
1 hour -
Indian police arrest journalist over tweets criticising Prime Minister
1 hour -
Buhari appoints new chief justice after resignation of Tanko Muhammed
1 hour -
Time is not on our side, ‘going to IMF is not a sin’ – Bokpin to government
2 hours