Over 2 million jobs have been created under Planting for Food and Jobs - Minister

The Minister for Food and Agriculture has revealed that his ministry has employed over 2 million Ghanaians under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme since its establishment in 2017 under the Akufo-Addo government.

According to Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, 745,000 people were employed in 2017, 794,944 in 2018 and 746,948 in 2019, a clear improvement in the performance of the agricultural sector in the country as year on year food inflation keeps declining.

He revealed that the Global index which considers affordability availability and quality of food across 113 countries placed Ghana in the 59th position in 2019 from the 79th position in 2018.

He added that over 1 million Ghanaians have also benefitted from the PFJ programme with the Ashanti Region leading with a total of 281,833 Ghanaians which include both genders.

Aside the regional beneficiaries, some institutions have also benefited from the PFJ which include Senior High Schools, 10 public and private universities, Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Armed Forces and some churches.

Under the PFJ programme, a rearing for food and jobs module was introduced in 2019 to increase domestic meat production and reduce importation of livestock product.

The minister said this module has improved breeds to livestock farmers and have supported to animal health.