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The European Union (EU) has delivered more than two million kilogrammes of seeds and fertilisers to support 12,600 smallholder farmers in the Northern Region for this year’s planting season.
The gesture was under the EU-funded Food Security Response project and facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The agriculture inputs delivered included 118,000 kg of maize seeds, 3,000 kg of sorghum foundation seeds, and 540 kg of millet foundation seeds; 31,200 bags of 50 kg NPK fertiliser and 14,000 bags of 50 kg urea fertiliser.
A press statement issued by the FAO in Accra copied by the Ghanaian Times said that the beneficiaries were drawn from Bunkpu
rugu-Nakpanduri, Central Gonja, North Gonja, Northeast Gonja, Bongo, and Kasena Nankana West Districts.
According to the statement, the FAO Representative in Ghana, Arslen Bounemra, said, “This initiative underscores our unwavering commitment to enhancing food security and empowering local communities.”
“We are proud to collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture and the European Union to deliver essential agricultural inputs to farmers in Northern Ghana.”
The statement also quoted the EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, as saying,“By combining our resources and expertise, the EU and FAO, in partnership with the Government of Ghana, are working together to ensure that farmers have access to high-quality seeds and other vital inputs necessary for successful crop cultivation for the 2024 planting season.
“This initiative is part of our broader mission to empower smallholder farmers, improve food security, and promote sustainable agricultural practices,” he said.
The statement also said distribution exemplified the project’s dedication to enhancing agricultural productivity and food security in Northern Ghana.
It said by equipping farmers with quality seeds, fertilisers, and equipment, the project aims to strengthen resilience and promote sustainable development within local farming communities.
Furthermore, the statement said a farmer in the Bongo District, Atintono Joseph, noted that the previous unavailability of adequate fertilisers and high-quality seeds had adversely affected crop yields.
“The fertilisers and seeds will now enable me to increase crop yields and ensure successful cultivation,” he was quoted.
