The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has assured the nation that
appropriate measures are in place to avert a potential food crisis in the
country.
He told Parliament that the measures to forestall
food insecurity included a temporary ban on grain (maize, rice, and soya)
exports,
promoting the use of organic fertilisers on
farms and the cultivation of crops such as roots, which
require less fertiliser
and increased monitoring of food and input prices to pick early warning signals
of potential food crisis
in order to take prompt remedial action.
He said the rest were the finalisation of
modalities for the haulage of produce from farm gates in food growing
areas to the market
centres by the government.
The minister during the presentation of the
midyear budget review that emergency measures were necessitated by the COVID-19
pandemic and the Russia Ukraine War, which combined to disrupt supply chains
and increased transportation costs.
These, he said are threatening food security
globally.
“But, what the people of Ghana care to see is what
their government is doing about it to ease the impact here.
“To enable households and farmers cope and support
stable food supply, Government has taken the following immediate measures:
• place a temporary ban on grain (maize, rice, and
soya) exports;
• promote the use of organic fertilizers and
cultivation of crops such as roots which
require less
fertilizer;
• monitor food and input prices to pick early
warning signals of potential food crisis
in order to take
prompt remedial action; and
• finalise modalities for the haulage of produce
from farm gates in food growing
areas to the market centres,”
the minister said.
He also announced plans to increase investments in
agriculture as well as support the youth to start agri-related businesses to
help boost productivity while creating jobs.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana