311 companies identified for 1D1F - Deputy Agric Minister

Deputy Minister of Agriculture, George Oduro has told Parliament that, government has earmarked 311 facilities for intervention towards the one-district-one-factory.

According to him government out of the number, identified a total of 131 facilities for expansion or general rehabilitation.

He said 180 have been identified for new construction in addition making a total of 311 facilities earmarked for intervention

He disclosed this in his submission following a question posed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bole/Bamboi, Yusif Sulemana.

When he was asked how many output (produce) market linkage contracts have been established between crop farmers and produce off-takers under the ongoing 'planting for food and jobs' initiative the MP said ‘’the planting for food and jobs initiative which was launched in the Brong Ahafo region in April 2017, has six thematic pillars- Improved seeds production and promotion, Increased Fertilizer Usage and promotion for increased productivity, Promoting and strengthening market linkage, Improved Extension Service, Fertilizer Monitoring and National Agriculture Census and One-Village-One Dam.’’

He continued: ‘’the sustainability of this initiative is very much dependent on providing ready markets for farmers under this programme. To motivate more farmers to sign up to this initiative, the Ministry of Agriculture through the National Buffer Stock Company, has put measures in place to purchase harvested farm produce under the planting for food and jobs initiative. The Ministry has so far registered 1,303 aggregators and given them license through the National Food Buffer Stock Company to purchase the produce from the local farmers under the planting for food and jobs for the 2017/2018 cropping season.’’

The MP sort to clarify the number of contracts signed between the farmers and aggregators and in his answer, the Deputy Minister said the 1,303 represents the number of contracts signed and spread nationwide.

The legislator later requested that list of aggregators is published on the official website of the Agric Ministry as well as the state owned newspapers.