Mr. Daniel Ohemeng-Boateng, Director of Policy Planning and Budget, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), announced this at the inauguration of the Eastern Regional Technical Committee to oversee its successful implementation.He said the regional offices of MOFA were also going to get GH?660,000.00 to closely monitor and make sure that the right things were done to achieve the intended outcomes.

The Canadian Government is supporting the programme with 18 million Canadian dollars.

Mr. Eric Kwakye Darfour, the Regional Minister, is the Chairman of the five-member committee, with the Regional Director of Agriculture, as Secretary.  The other members are the Regional Economic Planning Officer, the Regional Coordinator of the School Feeding Programme and a farmers’ representative. Mr. Kwesi Korboe, Technical Director of MOFA, said the target was to increase food production and boost returns to the farmer.

There would be the supply of subsidized fertilizers and improved planting materials, alongside extension services support.  He said 216 aggregators and off takers, had also been identified to buy from the farmers.  Mr. Korboe said the programme would target some selected cereals including rice, maize, soya-bean and sorghum, pointing out that, no genetically modified seeds would be used.

 Mr. Darfour said the programme had been carefully planned to cater for every aspect of the food supply chain. He called for strong support by the people to enable the programme to become a huge success – food security and give jobs to the youth.