Government has tasked all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Northern Ghana to guarantee that all households have adequate and safe food.
This is in line with the implementation of the Food Security and Environment Facility (FSEF) project.
The project among other interventions seeks to enhance Ghana’s food security through environmentally sound and agricultural development.
[contextly_sidebar id=”9nz3zN0uMUunl3T1r7uyahVjsVRttQ28″]At the second edition of knowledge sharing network forum held in Tamale, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD), Emmanuel K. Agyekum said government’s fight against hunger was on course.
He reiterated government’s commitment to promote food security as best approach to poverty reduction in rural communities.
According to Emmanuel K. Agyekum, the Canadian Government pumped 14. 3 million Canadian Dollars for the implementation of the Food Security and Environment Facility (FSEF) project which begun in 2008.
He trumpeted that a number of successes have already been chalked since the inception of the project.
Emmanuel K. Agyekum among others mentioned a reduction of hunger period in operational zones and an increase in the yields of maize as a result of the introduction of Zai method as some of the successes.
He said government sought to adopt indigenous innovative approaches to promote agricultural sustainability and natural resources management.
The Canadian Government’s Development Officer, Michael Creighton said Canada and Ghana shared common vision of strengthening the ability of underprivileged rural Ghanaians to produce enough food to feed themselves and reserve the surplus for supplementary income.
“Securing food security is a thematic priority of Canada’s bilateral development assistance program in Ghana: Canada has been a long standing active partner in the agriculture sector in Ghana and with particular focus on strengthening the capacity of small holder farmers especially women in the three northern regions.”
Michael Creighton reassured Ghanaians of the Canadian Government’s continual provision of direct budget support to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to fully implement its Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDP).
He said the Canadian Government would deepen its collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) to ensure food security and sound agriculture development at decentralized levels.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Ernest Debrah said government will continue to support interventions which seek to reduce poverty, promote food security and sustain the agrarian livelihoods of people in the three regions of the north.
He underscored the need for relevant and effective partnerships to achieve the set goals.
Julius Debrah commended the Canadian Government for its unflinching support to the Ghanaian economy.
“Earlier interventions that we benefited from your assistance and continue to enjoy your support include the District Wide Assistance Project (DWAP), Community Initiative to Food Security (CIFS), District Development Facility (DDF) and the Food Security and Environment Facility Project.”
Julius Debrah disclosed that the Food Security and Environment Facility Project is expected to end in May 2016.
“It is expected that by the end of the project there will be an increased use of not only innovative but also environmentally sound technologies and approaches in food security and sustainable agriculture within selected communities in the three northern regions.”
Dr. K. A Amasa on behalf of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Fiifi Kwetey said increasing agriculture for sustainable livelihood will continue to be government’s major priority.
The first edition of the Knowledge Sharing Network Forum was held in Tamale in May 2013 which brought together key stakeholders, selected sub-project implementation partners and development partners to share experiences.
The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development is coordinating the forum in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, Regional Coordinating Councils of the three regions of the north, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, the Canadian Government among others.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana