Agric Minister to tour three regions of the North

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, would from Monday, August 20, 2018, embark on a seven day tour to the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

The Minister would be visiting Tamale, Wa, Bolgatanga, Sissala East and West, Savelugu Nandom, Lawra, Jirapa and other parts of the three regions.

Hon. Owusu Afriyie Akoto is expected to begin his tour from the Northern Region where he would hold staff durbar and also interact with security agencies as well as fertilizer companies/dealers in the northern regions.

The minister is also expected to hold discussions with local seed producers contracted under the PFJ and further interact with students and authorities at the University for Development Studies.

A statement issued and signed by his Press Secretary said the Minister would additionally undertake a field tour to some project sites and farms under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme and also seize the opportunity to interact with farmers and acquaint himself with challenges confronting their activities.

Some of the projects the minister is expected to visit include the Transformation of the African Savannah Initiative (TASI) trial fields, Buffer Stock Warehouses and GCAP Clients projects.

The minister will also perform the formal launch of the University wing of the Planting for Food and Jobs at the Nyankpala campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).

In the Upper East Region, the minister and his entourage would meet with staff of the Ministry as well as security officers at Bolgatanga and inspects some projects, before moving to the Sissala East and West Districts in the Upper West Region.

He would be expected to visit Mashud Fields, one of the lead beneficiaries of the PFJ proramme.

In the Upper West Region, the Minister would also tour Wa, Jirapa and Lawra where he would be expected to familiarize himself with projects currently ongoing under the Ministry.

The minister and his team would also interact with groups of women farmers within the Wa Municipality.

The statement indicated that the “tour will largely focus on the government’s flagship Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme. It will be the first time the Minister is embarking on such extensive tour since the commencement of the 2018 crop season.

“The tour will afford the Minister the opportunity to acquaint himself with the level of progress of the Ministry, especially in the three northern regions which are known to be the hub of agriculture and key players in the PFJ programme” the statement noted.

He would be accompanied by Hon. George Boahen Oduro and Dr. Sagre Bambangi, who serve as his deputies.