SOCIAL

Govt releases GHs 365,609,010.50 to fund components of PFJ – Ofori-Atta
A total of about 365,609,010.50 out of the GHs 700 million meant for the smooth implementation of the government’s flagship ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ (PFJ) programme has been released, Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta has revealed.

Date Created : 7/19/2018 9:15:24 AM : Story Author : Emmanuel Frimpong/Ghanadistricts.com

According to him, a total of 6,000 metric tons of improved seeds of maize, rice, soya beans, sorghum, groundnut and vegetables were also distributed across the country in the 2017 cropping season, adding that over 120,000 bundles of cassava sticks were distributed mainly in the cassava growing areas.

Mr Ofori-Atta made the revelation when he presented the mid-year fiscal policy review of the 2018 budget statement and economic policy in Parliament Thursday.

He revealed that the government through the Agric ministry some fertilizer companies to supply and ensure the distribution of 270,000 metric tons of both organic and inorganic fertilizer at 50 percent subsidized prices for farmers.

He added that, as at June, a total of about 124,000mt of fertilizer was supplied to farmers.

To further improve and ensure smooth implementation of the programme, the Finance Minister also disclosed the procurement of 216 pickup vehicles and about 3,000 motorcycles and protective clothing to the District Agricultural Departments and Agricultural Extension officers.

Cabinet, he concluded has also approved “the recruitment of 2,700 extension officers to augment the depleting number of extension officers in the system”.