Japan supports Ghana with $2.5m agric machinery

The Embassy of Japan has handed over agricultural machinery under Japan’s Grant Assistance for Underprivileged Farmers (2KR) the Embassy said in a statement on Friday.

According to the statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, the total Grant is three hundred and thirty million yen (?330,000,000) which is approximately GH¢9.7 million or about $2.5 million.

The machinery comprises 77 agricultural tractors, with matching implements, 49 power tillers, 20 rice threshers, 11 rice reapers and 6 rice mills, which are to be distributed to farmers on hire purchase, it said.

"This grant assistance which started in 1981 is to contribute to the efforts of the Government of Ghana to mechanise agriculture and ensure food security, particularly rice production."

The Embassy said Japan was committed to helping Ghana overcome its over-dependence on rice importation.