In order to ensure equity and transparency in the distribution of government’s 50% subsidized fertilizer as part of the planting for food and jobs programme, the government has set up a committee called District Centre for Agricultural Commence and Technology to curb fertilizer smuggling.
Deputy Local and Rural Development Minister, hon Collins Augustine Ntim has revealed this to Otec FM.
According to him, the committee will collaborate with other Task Forces set up by the government and the district Assemblies to check fertilizer smuggling activities particularly those around borders towns.
It is recalled that fertilizer meant for distribution to farmers in the Volta Region as part of government’s planning for food and jobs programme, were being smuggled to the Republic of Togo.
This was disclosed by the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao letsa, during the first Volta Regional Coordinating Council meeting.
Moreover, Mr. Zubieru Abdulaih, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Pusiga District, also expressed concern about the increasing rate of fertilizer smuggling and urged dealers of the commodity and farmers to fight it.
The member of Parliament for Offinso North Constituency said the president Akufo – Addo led NPP government is determined to promote agriculture in the country for that matter they are working hard to eradicate this illegal act.
The Offinso North Law maker stated that farmers are the richest people in all the western countries President Nana Addo has visited but same cannot be said about Ghana.
“But when you come to Ghana farmers are suffering and the gap is political leadership that is why President Nana Addo through the Minister of Agricultural, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is putting these measures in place to help the districts and the entire country,” he said.
He explained that the District Centre for Agricultural Commence and Technology, the newly set up committee will keep data of all the farmers in every region and the number of fertilizers to be distributed to each farmer and curb smuggling in the process.
The Deputy Minister of Local government and Rural Development after touring some of the districts to monitor the progress of the planting for food and jobs programme said it has been successful despite the army worm invasion.
He expressed optimism that there will be a bumper harvest in the country this year particularly maize.
He therefore appealed to the saboteurs of the planting for food and jobs programme and one district one factory to stop since their actions and inactions tend to cause harm to the country.
Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has threatened to crack the whip on person or group of persons found to be engaged in smuggling government’s subsidized fertilizer.
Source: otecfmghana.com/Kwaku Anane Jr.
