Agric Minister urges 'one chief, one farm'

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto has appealed to chiefs to establish their own farms, under a "one chief, one farm" policy.

He said such a move would help government to realise its goals for the development of the agricultural sector. 

Speaking at the 33rd National Farmers’ Day celebration in Kumasi on Friday, Dr Afriyie Akoto said the Agric sector has witnessed a tremendous success in 2017 as compared to year 2016 as a result of President Akufo-Addo’s decision to prioritise the sector.

He said he has already made a similar appeal at the National House of Chiefs and in Parliament as well.

According to the Minister, the lifting of the ban on vegetable exports from Ghana to the European Union (EU) market and the 4.8 per cent growth in the sector as compared to 2016’s 3.6 per cent was part of the success story this year.

Dr Afriyie Akoto said a number of interventions such as supply of fertilisers to farmers at subsidized prices, provision of ready market for farm produce and improvement in infrastructure among others were part of the success story.

Planting for food and jobs

The Agric Minister said the planting for food and jobs programme will target 5,000 farmers in 2018 instead of the 2000 farmers in 2017.

Adding, he said the ministry will support cassava and groundnut production aside the five other crops which are already receiving support under the programme.