Minister for Food and Agriculture Bryan Acheampong has unveiled a series of government initiatives to alleviate the impact of the current dry spell on Ghanaian farmers.
Addressing the press at the Ministry of Information’s Press Center in Accra, Acheampong revealed that the government will provide vulnerable farmers with GHS 1,000 per hectare as partial compensation for investment losses and offer food grants to ensure minimum nutritional needs are met.
The measures also include a temporary ban on grain exports, procuring grains and poultry feed, and supporting soil moisture conservation techniques.
Acheampong reported that the dry spell has affected over 980,000 farmers across approximately 1.8 million hectares, with potential losses estimated at GHS 22.2 billion.
These affected regions contribute about 62% of the nation’s annual grain supply.
The government will launch a replanting support program to address crop failures, providing fast-maturing seeds and fertilizers.
Acheampong emphasized that irrigation and water management systems are crucial for sustainable farming and announced plans to complete 13 irrigation projects under the Agriculture Economic Enclaves Programme.
Finance Minister Dr Amin Adam announced an allocation of GHS 8 billion to fund relief and mitigation measures.
This response package includes cash transfers, food supplies, and other relief items. Dr. Adam explained that GHS 2.5 billion will come from the contingency fund, with GHS 2.4 billion contributed by development partners, including the World Bank.
A technical task force will oversee the distribution of resources to ensure transparency and accountability.
Minister for Defense Dominic Nitiwul assured that security measures have been intensified to prevent grain exports and smuggling and to preserve local supplies for affected farmers.
