“Planting For Food And Job Has Created 2,286,892 Jobs” – Dr. Afriyie Akoto

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has revealed that his government has successfully created 2,286,892 jobs for farmers under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

He said the move by the Akufo-Addo government has improved the living conditions of the many farmers in the country.

Addressing the media in Accra, the Minister said “The Planting for Food and Jobs by the Akufo-Addo Administration has created 2,286,892 Jobs for farmers in their farming communities. Commentators in Accra should visit the farming communities and witness great impacts.”

The Minister disclosed that in 2017, about 745,000 jobs were created as compared to 2018’s 794,944.

Dr. Afriyie Akoto hinted that although there was a decline in the number of farmers in 2019 as compared to 2018, it still recorded 746,948 for the previous year.

The Agric Minister further explained that food prices have reduced significantly in the last three years due to the availability of foodstuffs. “Food prices have reduced significantly in the last three years due to availability of foodstuffs due to Planting for Food and Jobs.”

He mentioned that Ghana placed third in Sub-Saharan after Botswana and South Africa citings findings by the economic intelligence unit.

“I pray that Ghana becomes self-Sufficient in rice by 2022. Government will import smaller solar powered rice mills for rice farmers in Ghana to achieve this target,” he stated.

Dr. Akoto emphasized that 1.2 million out of 3 million gaming families are currently benefiting from the PFJ policy.

He stressed that it is about One-third of farming families in the country adding that the Ministry has a target of reaching 1.4 million farmers by end of 2020.

He explained that the Ashanti Region leads the chart in the percentage participation programmes with 159,032.

“Some Senior High Schools increased from 160 in 2018 to 470 in 2019 whiles there are 10 public and private universities,” he said.

Speaking on the yield of major crops; Maize in 2016 stood at 1.7, shot up to 3.5 in 2017, maintained 3.5 in 2019 and rose to 3.8 in 2019 having 5.5 as an achievable yield.

He added that rice in 2016 stood at 2.7, shot up to 4 in 2017, maintained 4 in 2019 and rose to 4.3 in 2019 having 6 as an achievable yield.

“Tomatoes in 2016 stood at 7.8, shot up to 10 in 2017, maintained 10 in 2019 and rose to 12 in 2019 having 20 as an achievable yield. Pepper in 2016 stood at 8.3, shot up to 10 in 2017, maintained 10 in 2019 and rose to 18 in 2019 having 30 as an achievable yield” he pointed out.

He was confident that 2020 will be better than the past three years of Government’s achievement under the Planting for Food and Job Module.