The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has presented 500 motorbikes to agricultural extension officers.
The presentation was done last Tuesday, an effort aimed at enhancing extension services and increasing food production.
In his remarks on his official Facebook page after the presentation, the Minister highlighted the imperative need for a reform within the sector, noting the substantial challenge posed by high food imports and escalating food prices.
He indicated that Ghana allocates over $2 billion annually to food imports. Food inflation, which peaked at 61% during the previous administration, has since decreased to 32%.
According to him, a significant challenge persists in the form of a shortage of extension officers, with Ghana’s current ratio standing at approximately 1,500 farmers per officer, far exceeding the international standard of 500 farmers per officer.
To address this, Hon. Eric Opoku has indicated that the Ministry is recruiting Feed Ghana Coordinators and equipping extension officers with necessary tools to reach farmers effectively.
“It is essential that officers utilize the motorbikes responsibly to ensure rural farmers, especially those in hard-to-reach areas, directly benefit from government interventions.”, he noted.
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