Agricultural Issues
Government Is to Subsidize Price of Fertilizer
Ghana News Agency
Government is to subsidise 150,000 metric tons (3,000,000 bags) of fertilizers at a total cost of GH¢ 69.8 million under its Subsidy Programme for the 2011 farming season.
The programme, which started in 2008, was to assist farmers increase crop productivity and production in the country.
Dr Kwame Amezah, Director of Extension Services Directorate and Coordinator of the Programme, disclosed this at a press conference to announce its commencement for the 2011 farming season.
Brazil Assists Ghana to Mechanize Agriculture
Myjoyonline.com
Brazil has offered to assist Ghana with $94 million to provide tractor and equipment services to aid the country's bid to mechanize agriculture and boost food production.
It has also made available $200,000 to support victims of the flood disaster that hit the northern parts of the country, Mr. John Jinapor, spokesperson of the Vice President disclosed this to the Ghanaian Times on phone from Brasilia yesterday.
He said the move formed part of the two countries' decision to deepen south-south co-operation in areas of agriculture, health, trade and infrastructural development.
Only Five Per Cent Cultivable Land Is Irrigated - IDA
Ghana News Agency
The total potential of irrigable land in Ghana is put at 500,000 hectares, but only 25,000 hectares are under irrigation.
This means that just five per cent of the total cultivable area is irrigated despite plans for irrigation development over the years.
Mr. Simon Apio, Acting Director of the Irrigation Development Authority, said lack of funds was the main reason inhibiting feasibility studies and work on the projects that had been identified in most areas.
Ghana's Revised GDP Growth in 2010 Estimated At 7.7 Per Cent
Ghana News Agency
Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) almost double to 7.7 per cent in 2010, according to revised figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service.
The figures showed that the economy in 2010 outpaced the final growth estimate of four per cent in 2009 by 3.7 percentage points.
Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, said in real terms the GDP estimate stood at GH¢24.187 billion up from GH¢22.454 billion in 2009.
MOFA to Irrigate 500000 Hectares' Of Land Countrywide- Ahwoi
Ghana News Agency
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) under the Medium Term Agriculture Sector Development Plan (METASIP) is to develop 500,000 hectares of irrigated land nationwide with a large portion of it in the northern sector.
The project will comprise dam rehabilitation and construction, development of valley bottoms to allow rice irrigation and river pumping schemes.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture announced this at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of the first batch of 154 kilometres (km) of feeder roads out of 600 kms to be constructed under the Northern Rural Growth Programme (NRGP) at the cost of more than GH¢ 6,886,834.37 at Kukobila, a farming community in the Savelugu/Nanton District of the Northern Region on Monday.
Articles from the Daily Graphic
Farmers Urged to Take Advantage of Fertilizer Subsidy
Daily Graphic, Friday, May 13, 2011 No. 18532, page 49
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi has encouraged farmers to make use of the government's subdsidy on fertilizer. He said this when he launched the fertilizer policy.
For the 2011 farming season, the government is subsidizing 150,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer at a cost of GH¢69.8 million. This is to ensure that the nation's application rate is increased to 20kg per hectare, to equal the rate in sub-Saharan Africa.
Port handling charges, agent's commission and transprotation costs among others, will be absorbed in the policy to enable farmers accross the country to buy fertilizers at the same price.
The Director of Extension Services Directorate, Dr. Kwame Amezah, who is also the coordinator of the program, stated that the waybill system will be used in distributing and selling fertilzers. Fertilizer companies will import and clear fertilizers from the ports and pay for all charges involved and then deliver the requested amounts of each type of fertilizer to the regions and districts for sale to the farmers by registered sale agents.
Dr. Amezah also advised farmers to inform MoFa officials in their area of operation if any dealer sells fertilizers above the specified prices.
Japan Assists Ghana with Agric. Machinery
Daily Graphic, Wednesday, May 11, 2011 No. 18530, page 49
Japan has given a grant to under privilledged farmers in Ghana under it's Japanese Grant Assistance, which will benefit six regions including the three northern regions, Volta, Ashanti and Greater Accra.
Agricultural machinery worth $5.1 million have been received to assist in improving the local rice industry.
Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the deputy Minister of Information, told the Daily Graphic that this was a major boost to the mechanization program. He further stated that 80 mechanization centres have been set up in the country in view of the president making agriculture the basic foundation of Ghana's economic devleopment.
The gesture from Japan will further improve rice production and recude rice importation, saving the country some foreign exchange. This will also strengthen the economy and create jobs.