Ghana's Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta has revealed that his government has successfully created Two Million, Two Hundred and Eighty-Eight Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Nine (2,288,529) jobs under the Planting for Food and Jobs policy since assumption of office in 2017.
According to him, 2017 saw Seven Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand Six Hundred and One (746,601) jobs being created whiles 2018 recorded Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Four (794,944).
Presenting the 2020 mid-year budget review, the Minister said "We created Seven Hundred and Forty Six Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-Four (746,984) jobs in 2019.
Hon. Ken Ofori Atta further added that in the Agricultural Modernisation, Seven Thousand One Hundred and Forty-One (7,141) hectares of land was being developed for various irrigation systems.
He also hinted that eleven (11) out of fourteen (14) programmed small earth dams under the Agricultural modernisation had been completed.
"7000 Millitres of fertilizer (organic and inorganic) distributed from 2017 - 2019. 15 million seedlings of cashew, coffee, coconut and oil palm have been distributed to farmers" he said.
The Minister stressed that under the Agricultural Modernisation, 300,000 millitres of improved seeds of maize, rice, soybean, sorghum, tomato, onion, and pepper have been distributed to farmers across the country.
He said "1.5 Million farmers have been enrolled under planting for food and jobs, 17 warehouses with 1,000 MT capacity built whiles 13 are under construction"
He explained that 6,270 units of agricultural machinery and equipment have been supplied to farmers under the agricultural modernisation.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith