The Minister for Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Dr. Owusu Afriyie-Akoto, has hinted that government will from 2019, roll out the ‘Rearing for Food and Jobs’ (RFJ) programme, to facilitate growth in the livestock industry.
He said the programme was geared at increasing livestock production to meet the high demand for meat and reduce importation in the industry.
Dr. Afriyie Akoto made this known at a stakeholder review meeting by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.
He said the rearing for food and jobs programme will complement the planting for food and jobs to increase food production and address the issue of food insecurity.
“Rearing for food and Jobs is coming on next year (2019) exclusively for the livestock including cattle and other ruminants with the Fulani issue that we are dealing with effectively. We are currently rehabilitating Wawase at the Afram Plains, and we are resuscitating the idea about permanent buildings with veterinary doctors and all other experts with about 250 hectares ranch to look at the animals that will give us more meat and milk and we are hoping to establish others in the Upper East Region”.
Gov’t virtually eliminating Fall Armyworms
Dr. Afriyie Akoto further mentioned how prudent measures taken by the ministry in the wake of the fall armyworm invasion ensured that less hectares of farmlands were destroyed this year.
“I am happy to say that, the fall armyworms is virtually being eliminated. Only 16 hectares of crops were destroyed this year compared to 600 hectares last year.
“Our efforts in maintaining the national task-force in the sensitization of farmers on fall armyworms, training of our technicians and formation of spraying groups have worked effectively to the extent that, the fall armyworms although raise its heads, we have managed to completely manage the threads”.
Agric officials under investigation for fertilizer ‘smuggling’
On ensuring efficiency within the agricultural sector, Dr. Akoto narrated how some four agric officials from the Upper East Region are currently being investigated by the police for misappropriating fertilizer meant for the region.
“Four agric offices are currently being investigated by the police for mishandling fertilizer stocks under their care. We sent auditors to audit their stock and they discovered shortages in the stock levels. They have been given the ultimatum to pay because they are responsible, so the immediate thing is to retrieve government money and the criminality aspect will be dealt with later”.
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By: Frederick Awuni/citinewsroom.com/Ghana