PFJ improves food security in Abuakwa North

The Abuakwa North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Owusu Twum-Ampofo, says the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme has resulted in increased crop yield and returns for farmers in the area.

The per-hectare yield of maize has gone up from 1.9 metric tons to 3.0 metric tons.

He said this has helped to boost food security in the municipality and raised farmers' incomes.

Under the government's signature PFJ programme, farmers are supplied with subsidized fertilizer and improved planting materials.

The MCE was speaking at the meeting to brief journalists and stakeholders in the Municipality on how the government's programmes and interventions were positively impacting the lives of the people.

He said the PFJ had so far supported 597 farmers to grow maize in the municipality, while Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) had seen the distribution of 9,150 oil palm seedlings to 96 farmers, to cover over 152.5 acres of land.

Mr. Twum- Ampofo said to assist make things better for persons with disability (PWDs), a total of GHC86, 522.38 had been disbursed to 56 of them to support their health, education and economic ventures, while, 254 households were currently benefiting from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) in the municipality.

As part of his presentation, he highlighted on some completed and ongoing projects in the municipality and indicated that although tremendous gains had been made,there were still challenges and the assembly was putting in measures to address them especially in the road sector.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North Constituency, Ms. Gifty Twum- Ampofo said she used GHC 69,800.00 of her MP's Common Fund to sponsor the education of some tertiary students.

She had additionally provided motorbikes to education supervisors to enhance their supervisory role and help improve the standard of education in the area.