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The Feed Ghana Program, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, aims to boost food production, reduce imports, and create jobs in agriculture-related sectors. The program has several components, including, crop development, increasing production and productivity of crops like maize, rice, soybeans, and vegetables through improved access to irrigation and extension services.
Livestock development Supporting poultry, cattle, sheep, goat, and pig farming with improved breeds, feed, and veterinary services.
Institutional Farming, encouraging schools, prisons, and other institutions to cultivate food crops and raise livestock to reduce food costs and promote agricultural values.
Farmers’ Service Centres, Providing mechanization services, training, quality inputs, and market linkages to farmers.
Farm Banks, establishing agricultural production zones with secured land, shared infrastructure, and market access.
The program also focuses on youth empowerment, deploying 5,000 agriculture and veterinary graduates to support implementation, and promoting agri-entrepreneurship through initiatives like land banks and smart agriculture centers.
By embracing the Feed Ghana Program, the Oti Regional agric director, Obrien Nyarko is likely supporting efforts to enhance food security and improve nutritional outcomes.
According to him the Oti Region has received 10,000 bags of NPK and the agric department is providing inputs and agriculture advice to the schools that are into school farming.
Mr. Nyarko added that, the Feed Ghana program will help increase raw material supply to agro-industry and also create sustainable employment and enhance economic growth.
He said the program will help reduce import dependency while boosting domestic production and export.
Obrien Nyarko, Regional Director of Agriculture, Oti Region stated that all schools that are into school farming will be supported by the agriculture department to help solve their challenges.
He also assured the school that there will be an establishment of farmer service centers, where all schools can get all what they want to go into such as modern machines and equipment.
Mr. Nyarko said the ministry of agriculture has put things in place where schools will be included in the national farmers awards and they will also support all the masters who are in charge of the farmers.
*Source Samali Abdul Razak*