The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta has commended the Asian African Consortium, a subsidiary of Jospong Group of Companies for its readiness to support farmers with the required equipment and manchinery.
He said the availablity of such equipment and it’s utilisation will greatly boost the agriculture in the country and impact on the government’s agender of making the country self sufficient in food production.
Taking a tour at the stand of Asian African Consortium (AAC) at the Agrifest, a five- day agriculture and food exhibition, at the Ministry’s enclave in Accra, the Finance Minister said the technical and manchinery support it is providing small holder farmers who would have spent a fortune to access such machinery is commendable.
Equipment like this becomes critical because the per capita income of farmers does not allow them to afford these services so the intervention by AAC and the Jospong Group is important and very much appreciated,” he commended.
The Minister was optimistic that Ghana will be food sufficient from next year.
According to the Minister, the necessary measures have been taken by the state to ensure that this is achieved.
Let’s get excited about next year for us to have food sufficiency and also create the necessary jobs needed,” he was optimistic.
The Minister express satisfaction with the resolve of Ghanaians in supporting government’s agenda to achieve food sufficiency.
“The exhibition shows the strength and ingenuity of Ghanaians,” the Minister stated.
He added that the focus of the government is to increase agriculture sector growth figures from 6.3% recorded last year to numbers that will stop Ghana from importing about “US$2 billion worth of food to self sufficiency and import security in poultry, rice etc”.
He added that in the light of this, the Ministry of Finance through MiDA, is providing GHc1 billion cedis in the 2024 budget to turn the fortunes of sector around.
“We also except the Development Bank of Ghana to provide additional GHc2 billion to support the sector,” he noted.
The Finance Minister further added that due to the Domestic Debt Exchange Program, (DDEP), the government is supporting commercial banks with about GHc10 billion to support and guarantee agriculture financing in the country.
The CEO AAC, Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, in a brief remark noted that the manchinery will help the farmers in pre farming activities.
“Our machines are best for land development and preparation, crop enhancement, and irrigation development among others,” she touted.
The equipment and machinery is part of the first set of equipment brought to Ghana in partnership with Yama group of companies to showcase the AAC’s readings to transform the agricultural sector and make it competitive.
She commended the Food and Agric Minister for commencing the phase two of the Planting for Food and Jobs as as part of the country’s comprehensive strategy to ensure food sufficiency, as well as promoting sustainability practices in the farming sector.
As part of the 39th celebration of the National Farmers’ Day celebration, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has launched a five-day agricultural fair dubbed “Agrifest Ghana 2023.”
The fair, which took off on Monday, November 27, at the head office of the agriculture ministry, saw the display of various food items and crops from different regions across the country.
Agrifest 2023, organised by MoFA, seeks to create awareness of various food items, where and how to get them in large quantities, and also to appreciate the hardworking farmers responsible for producing them.
