Bumper Grain Harvest Expected This Year

The Ministry of Agriculture says it expects a good harvest of grains this year and has therefore, put measures in place to import harvesting equipment, in preparation towards the season.

"We are foreseeing an increase in rice, maize and soybeans production, especially in the Northern, Upper East and West Regions as farmers production lands have doubled by thirty per cent. Farmers in the Southern parts, that is in the Coastal Savana Zone have also stepped up production of maize and cassava", Mr. Joseph Kwasi Boamah, Acting Director of Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate of the Ministry said on Thursday in Accra.

Mr. Boamah said, as far as the engineering sector is concerned, the ministry is well prepared to meet the challenges of harvesting seasons.

In addition to importing combine harvesters and other harvesting equipment in preparation for the season, various facilities have been received from Japan and China to augment what is produced locally.

The Ministry is hoping to reduce post harvest losses from between 30 and 40 per cent to ten and five per cent and to raise the living standards of farmers.