The Ministry of Food and Agriculture will distribute 33,500 metric tonnes (mt) of improved seeds and 304,500mt of organic and inorganic fertilizers to beneficiary farmers in the northern sector, in the second half of this year.

This is part of the Food Crops Development Module of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme, which aims to increase productivity and incomes of small holder farmers.

Under the programme, the government targeted to distribute 39,000mt and 310,500mt of subsidised improved seeds and fertilizers, respectively, to 1.7 million farmers for the 2022 cropping season.

As of June 2022, a total of 5,500mt of improved seeds (1,390mt of Maize (OPV), 1,540mt of Maize (Hybrid), 1,860mt of Rice, 50mt of Groundnut, 51mt of Cowpea, 540mt of Soya bean, 64mt of Sorghum, 5mt of Vegetables) and 6,000mt of fertilizers (400mt organic and 5,600mt inorganic) were distributed to PFJ beneficiary farmers, mainly in the southern regions of the country.

The input subsidy intervention, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said at the presentation of the 2022 Mid-Year Budget Review, has stimulated increased willingness of farmers to use improved seeds and fertilizers.

Government, under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme, raised and distributed 100,000 improved cashew seedlings to farmers across the country.

Mr. Ofori-Atta, said, government will facilitate the production of 200,000 improved cashew planting materials for distribution to tree crop farmers in the second half of 2022.

Under the Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) programme, which has the objective of increasing animal protein, creating employment, and increasing income for actors along the livestock value chain, government procured and installed 1,200-capacity poultry battery cages to support 1,000 women and youth.

A total of 313 beneficiaries in nine Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (Savelugu, Sagnarigu, Wa Municipal, Nandom, Sissala East, Krachi East, Nkwanta South, Techiman North, and Nkoranza) were supported with 35,123 layer-pullets as start-ups. 213.

The purpose of the intervention is to empower rural women and youth with sustainable alternative livelihoods and promote improved household nutrition.

In the second half of the year, Mr. Ofori-Atta stressed that government will distribute 84,877 layer-pullets to the remaining 687 women and youth beneficiaries of battery cages.

In addition, government will complete procurement processes for one million broiler day-old chicks and 500mt of feed and vaccines for supply to small holder farmers at subsidised rates to increase meat production.