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File photo:$32.53m project to boost food production in north launched File photo:
A project aimed at boosting food production and addressing key constraints in the agriculture value chain in Northern Ghana has been launched in Tamale.
Dubbed “Savannah Agricultural Value Chain Development Programme (SADEP), the project is expected to contribute to the government’s industrialisation agenda, support Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ), skills development and entrepreneurship for women and youth, and build resilient food systems in the north.
The five-year project is being initiated by the Savannah Agricultural Improvement Programme (SAPIP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture with a $32.53 million grant from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Ghana.
The project interventions would include producing over 8,000 of crops, 50,000 guinea fowls, 50,000 broilers, and 50,000 layers as initial input for commercial poultry production, in accordance with the government subsidy policy.
At least, 5,000 women-headed households in vulnerable communities would be supported with 50,000 guinea fowls with each household receiving 10 birds for rearing to enhance farm income and household nutrition. overview
At its launch last Tuesday in Tamale, SAPIP National Project Coordinator Felix Dramani outlined the project, which he said would build on the successes under his SAPIP and Savannah Investment Program (SIP). said to be aiming for From 80 hectares in 2018 to 14,000 hectares of soybeans in 2021.
“Inputs such as fertilizers and seeds will be made available to commercial farmers and their producers to boost local production of rice, soybeans and corn,” he said.
Dramani added that 20,000 jobs are expected to be created under the project, with 40% of those jobs going to women and young people.
He explained that it will be implemented in his nine districts in his five regions in the north and will go a long way in addressing key constraints in food security and the poultry and animal feed industry.
praise
Deputy Minister of Grains, Food and Agriculture Yeo Frimpong Addo praised the AfDB’s continued support in transforming the agricultural sector and people’s lives. He said the overall goal of the SEDAP project is to ensure the country’s climate-resilient food and nutrition security, create jobs and contribute to industrialization.
global crisis
Eyerusalem Fasika, his country manager at the AfDB, said the project was designed to help the government mitigate the impact of his COVID-19 pandemic and the war between Russia and Ukraine. I was.
“We believe that prioritizing key agricultural value chains across Ghana’s various agro-ecological zones will provide the platform and support needed to drive investment and unlock Ghana’s transformational potential.” she said.
The country manager said the country has a technology, private Department, added that there are young people.
Fasika reiterated her team’s commitment to continue supporting the agricultural sector to ensure food security.