Atebubu-Amantin Department of Agriculture sensitizes communities on ‘Feed Ghana’ Programme

The Atebubu-Amantin municipal office of the Department of Agriculture has sensitized the Akokoa, Kumfia and Abamba communities on the government agriculture flagship ‘Feed Ghana’ Programme.

According to the municipal head of the department, Mr. Bright Atta Boateng, the initiative aims to increase the production of food for both domestic consumption and export.

He said the programme which also has the objective of ensuring food security will have government invest in staples like maize, rice, sorghum, soya beans, cassava, yam and potato.

Mr. Atta Boateng indicated that vegetables like tomatoes, pepper and onions will be cultivated whiles the production of ruminants like goats, sheep and cattle together with pigs and poultry will be boosted, adding that tree crops like mango, cashew, coconut, oil palm and shea nut farming will also be supported under the initiative.

On the modalities, he said government will provide quality planting and breeding materials, tractor services and agro inputs to farmers at an agreed cost which beneficiaries will have to repay in kind with produce from their farms on an agreed date and urged beneficiaries to be honest in their dealings with authorities for the survival of the initiative and for others to benefit from it.

He said the prospects that come with the programme coupled with plans to make the municipality one of the initial beneficiaries of the proposed Farmer Service Centers present a big opportunity to farmers in the municipality to help boost agriculture and to better their lot through increased incomes.

Mr. Atta Boateng therefore urged farmers to form groups of between 15 and 40 members which he said is a major pre-requisite for accessing any assistance under the programme adding that interested existing groups with over forty members will not be affected by the ceiling.

The director, together with a team of staff from his outfit, clarified issues bothering the minds of the farmers.

Some of the farmers expressed happiness with the initiative but were quick to point out the pitfalls of similar interventions in the past where beneficiaries failed to pay back the assistance received, leading to the collapse of these otherwise laudable initiatives.