We’ve ‘conquered’ armyworms – Deputy Agric Minister declares

A Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Horticulture, Hon George Oduro believes that the swift recovery of farms infested by the dreadful armyworms across the country is a clear indication that government has conquered the invasion of the armyworm.

According to him, though some farms are still being affected by the fall armyworm, huge acres of infested farms have been recovered through government’s swift intervention of spraying the armyworms.

Speaking on OTEC FM’S ”NYANSAPO” Programme, Hon Oduro who is also MP for New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region intimated further that, projection of a bumper harvest was proof the armyworms have been defeated.

“So far, I am impressed by the performance of our spraying programme and that of the farmers. I have been to the Upper West Region and here in the Upper East Region, and have seen the signs of the fall armyworms in the past in a lot of these farms; but I can also see how these farms have recovered.”

The Minister is in the region to participate the ongoing eight-day agricultural exhibition ahead of this year’s edition of the National Farmers day celebration which will be held at the forecourt of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi under the theme, “Planting for Food and Jobs”.

Focus

The exhibition, which is expected to focus on the full value chain in the agricultural sector, is aimed at supporting the government‘s flagship policy of Planting for Food and Jobs and create a platform for knowledge transfer to farmers.

It will also bring together stakeholders in the agricultural sector value chain as well variety of food in the various regions and is expected to increase knowledge in services to agro-processing and farming.

Hon Oduro told the programme’s host Nana Kwabena Ampratwum that, the government’s policies of Planting for Food and Jobs, one-district, one-factory and one-village, one-dam were laudable called on Ghanaians to help achieve President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vision.

“The distribution of agricultural machinery at subsidized prices to farmers, the recent 50 percent fertilizer and Seed subsidy and the provision of input on credit under the ‘Planting for Food and Job’ to farmers for the production of maize, rice and sorghum, soya bean and vegetables in expanded programmes’’ Hon Oduro observed.

“The One Village, One Dam project’, the construction of warehouses in many districts and the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme to foster agro-processing were all aimed at encouraging our farmers to increase production and productivity in the Agricultural Sector,” he added.

The New Edubiase MP said, the agricultural sector needed to be supported to ensure food security, promote agro-business as well as enhance the income of the farmers.