Government has committed GH₵1.5 billion towards its Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalising the agricultural sector.
The Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced that despite financial constraints, this allocation is a strategic move to boost local food production and reduce unemployment.
Speaking on JoyNews Roundtable on the 2025 budget on Wednesday, March 12, Mr Ofosu stated that as part of the initiative, government is introducing multiple programmes, including the Feed Ghana Program, the Ghana Greens Development Project, and the Vegetable Development Project.
He noted that a major component of the plan is ‘Nkokɔ Nketenkete’, a Poultry Farm to Table Project, which seeks to revamp the struggling poultry industry.
“What we call Nkokɔ Nketenkete, which, unfortunately, our political opponents mocked when President Mahama first mooted the idea, …..is aimed at bolstering the poultry sector, which incidentally, as we speak, has collapsed,” Mr Ofosu explained.
He stated that while the initial focus is on poultry, the initiative will also support farmers engaged in grain production, vegetable farming, rice cultivation, and tuber farming.
“Now it is the case that we are starting with poultry, but we are aware that there are many other things that can be done within the framework of animal husbandry, within the framework of snail rearing, within the framework of other things that can be done in that sector, but it is part of a comprehensive program.
“So it is not just about having chicks to go and raise in order to build a poultry farm on your own. We are going to help farmers who grow vegetables, those who are into grain, soya beans and what have you, those who grow rice, those who grow tubers, yam, cassava, and whatever,” he said.
The Abura Asebu-Kwamankese legislator stated that the government aims to create a sustainable ecosystem where farmers can reinvest their earnings to expand their businesses.
Mr Ofosu also acknowledged concerns about whether GH₵1.5 billion would be sufficient but stated that this is just the beginning.
He noted that as the economy grows and more resources become available, the government will increase funding to expand agricultural opportunities and create jobs.
“As the economy expands, as more money becomes available to government, we are going to increase their locations to ensure that as many of our people as possible are able to venture into agriculture which we believe is one of the ways that we can create jobs, especially where unemployment remains one of the biggest problems that we have,” he added.
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