MINISTER URGES FARMERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PFJ PHASE II

The Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu, has urged farmers in the region to take advantage of the second phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative by the government to improve on food security and the standard of living of residents.

He mentioned the agricultural potentials of the region, noting that “We can boost of the Fumbisi Rice Valley for commercial agriculture and water bodies such as Tono, Tamne and Vea Dams for dry season farming and irrigation.”

The Regional Minister said this at the maiden Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) meeting held in Bolgatanga.

The well-attended meeting brought key Regional Heads of Department including VRA/NEDCo, Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Department of Agriculture, Municipal and District Chief Executives among several others together.

Hon Yakubu explained that the second phase of PFJ would not supply direct input subsidy to farmers, but was rather a smart agriculture input credit system linked to structured market management.

He said it was a five-year project targeted at attaining food and raw materials, self-sufficiency in 11 food commodity categories: vegetables ( tomatoes, onions, pepper), grains (rice , maize, soya and sorghum), roots and tubers( plantain, cassava) and poultry, with emphasis on broiler production and processing.

The Chief Director of the RCC, Alhaji Inusah Abubakari, charged the 15 Municipal and District Assemblies to gazette their bye-laws, especially those on fees-fixing resolutions to enable them prosecute defaulters and increase revenue for development.

He expressed appreciation to development partners including UNICEF, WFP, UNFPA, KOICA , JICA and CRS for their continuous supports to the region.