Twelve districts in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions and parts of Brong Ahafo Region are benefiting from the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP), which was launched in April by Vice President John Dramani Mahama. The eight-year project, which is the initiative of the government, International Fund for Agriculture Development and African Development Bank, was aimed at curbing and bridging the poverty gap between the North and South. The beneficiary districts are West Mamprusi, Savelugu-Nanton, West Gonja and Tolon-Kumbungu in the Northern Region, Talensi-Nabdam, Bawku West and Kassena-Nankana districts in the Upper East Region. The rest are Wa West and Jirapa, Nadowli Districts in the Upper West and Kintampo North and Tain districts in the Brong Ahafo Region. A gender specialist of the NRGP, Ms Amina Alhassan Bin Salih, made this known in Bolgatanga on Thursday at a sensitisation programme of the programme organised by Trade Aid and sponsored by the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition (GTLC), both non-governmental organisations. Ms Salih said the specific objective of the programme was to develop inclusive and remunerative commodity and food chain to generate agricultural surplus production. She said the project would support beneficiaries with logistics, expertise and financial resources to embark upon their agricultural activities. Ms Salih said the capacity of farmers and other food producers would be strengthened to enable them to prepare business and development plans, whilst rural infrastructure facilities such as dams, market structures, feeder roads and warehouse services would also be provided. She said currently the programme was focusing on four commodities, including soya beans, sorghum and maize, chillies, okra and papaya as well as sheanut and livestock production. The Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Agriculture, Mr Thomas Ayamga asked the farmers to register with the District Agriculture Officers to become beneficiaries of the programme. Mr. Richard Anaga, Regional Focal Person of GTLC, said the purpose of the forum was to create awareness about the programme to the people to take advantage of it to improve upon their livelihoods. One hundred and four million dollars is expected to be used for the programme. Source: GNA