Accra, Nov 17, GNA – To increase food production and livelihood in the country, the government procured and distributed 31,797metric tonnes of improved seeds to farmers as at September 2021.
In addition, a total of 259,500 metric tonnes of various fertilizers were also distributed to Planting for Food and Jobs beneficiary farmers across the country, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance announced this in Accra when he presented the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament House on Wednesday.
Speaking on food and agriculture programme being rolled out to ensure food sustainability in the country, Mr Ofori-Atta said under the Savannah Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project (SAPIP), the Government developed 1000 hectares of farmland at Gbedembilsi, Builsa South in the Upper East region, and Kojope and Janga, all in the Northern region respectively, for rice production, which are estimated to yield about 40 per cent above the national average production of 2.5-3.0metric tonnes per hectare in lowland valleys.
On the fishery sector, Mr Ofori-Atta said the government would continue with the construction of the 14 fish landing sites, which were at the various stages of completion.
“Government expects to complete about 60 per cent in 2022,” he said, adding, that would ensure safe launching and landing of artisanal fishing as well as create and maintain hygienic environment and job opportunities within the fishing communities.
He said the government would also focus on completing the almost 5000 on-going projects under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme in 2022.
So far, a total of 730 out of the 1,000 mechanised water systems as well as 507 small earth dams out of the 560 targeted have been completed under the “One Village One Dam” Initiative have been completed, he said.
He said all the 50 rural markets targeted under the agriculture component have also been completed.
Furthermore, 451 additional constituency projects, which cut across all sectors such as health, education, agriculture, roads and security have been completed and were in use by the beneficiary communities.