President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said the Planting for Food and Jobs, (PFJ), programme is a vital intervention which has led to significant improvement in food production in the country.
He said in the last two years, government has provided the needed support to smallholder farmers for the programme, leading to an increase in bumper harvest for the country.
Speaking at a media encounter in Accra at the Jubilee House, the President said the programme has led to an increase in food crops especially maize.
“We no longer import maize because of the success of the programme. We are considering its exportation to other countries”, he said.
He said, for instance, that for the very first time, the Upper East Region produced excess rice and needed markets for it, adding that the State would be embarking on providing warehousing to store such excess produce.
He said it is imperative for the country to diversify the nature of agriculture by investing in other crops like mango, pineapple to harness the country’s gains.
The programme was aimed at increasing productivity of food crops, ensuring food security, raw materials for industry, reducing food import and increasing export.
It also seeks to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth as well as attract others into the agricultural sector.
The roll out of the programme in June 2017 has since changed the face of the agricultural sector of the country.
GNA
