Under the Savanna Investment Programme (SIP) farmers in the Upper East Region In 2021, Guinea keets numbering 22,600 were given to 20 selected out growers to breed is a one-time activity of the project and is a request from the district and the project provided that and keets were given to farmers at a subsidized price of Ghc4.00 per keet. Apexnewsgh.com report This was according to the Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Francis Ennor when he spoke to Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on Thursday, September 1, 2022. The Savannah Investment Programme (SIP) aims to reduce the importation of animal protein, enhance the competitiveness of the poultry industry, improve small ruminant breeds and contribute to improved food and nutrition security in Ghana. The Programme seeks to increase farmers’ food and nutrition security and incomes through increased agricultural productivity and diversification; and enhance the creation and strengthening of agribusinesses to increase the incomes of actors along the selected value chains on a sustainable basis. The project has four components :(i) Access to Agriculture Finance,(ii) Production Development,(iii) Agri-Business and Value Chain Development and(iv) Project Management and Institutional Support. The Programme will be implemented over a five-year period (2019 –2024) at a total cost of UA25 million, of which UA20 million is a loan from the ADF and UA5 million represents the Government and beneficiaries’ contribution. Source: Apexnewsgh.com Please, for publication kindly forward your article on apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Rearing for Food and Job: 2000 farmers benefited from the distribution of sheep in the Upper East
Under the government policy initiative Rearing for Food and Job (RFJ) 2000 sheep were distributed to interested farmers in five districts in the Upper East Region for rearing. The Regional also mentioned that “2019 we received 2500 cockerels from the Savanna Investment Programme for 5 districts and each district received 500 cockerels and it went to 50 beneficiaries which means 10 cockerels per beneficiary. This was according to the Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Francis Ennor when he spoke to Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh.com on Thursday, September 1, 2022. “This means every district had Four Hundred Sheep and it went to 40 beneficiaries and in all these 40 beneficiaries each one was given 10 sheep comprising nine female and one male. And the idea is that the beneficiaries will keep these animals for two or three years. Then, after that, we pick the upspring from them and distribute it to other farmers who could not benefit initially” “So that over time, most of the people within the district will be able to have access to upspring to benefit”.According to Mr. Ennor, those who benefited from the exercise did not pay anything before, giving them the animals. He said: “the only criteria we set were to make sure that you are interested, you are already in the business, you will avail yourself to any programme that comes and you have a house for the animal, you are prepared to feed them, medicate them and we sign MOU with the farmer who develops the interest, that the animals are given to them to make sure that they kept them very well for them to pass on upspring to the other beneficiaries”. Meanwhile, he also revealed that recovery is ongoing, I think there is one particular district we are having some problems with the passing of upspring. Some people have poisoned the mind of some farmers that when they go for the upspring they will toss up and down” he expressed Source: Apexnewsgh.com||Ghana Please for your publication kindly forward your article on apexnewsgh@gmail.com
Upper East Region Is Food Secured Dont Panic – Minister
Hon Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister has allayed the fears of residents in the Region of any possible food insecurity owing to some challenges in accessing fertilizers by farmers. He said the Regional Department of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) was leasing with its Headquarters to secure enough fertilizers for farmers in the Region and was hopeful that the rainfall pattern this year would help boost crop yields. Hon Yakubu said this when Madam Kati Csaba, the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana called on him at his office to discuss issues of food security in the Region. The Minister recounted the days when compost manure made of cattle and ruminate droppings was used on farms as fertilizer but noted that due to climate change and reduction in the animal population, chemical fertilizers had taken over in anticipation of higher yields. Even though there may be some challenges in the use of inorganic fertilizers, the Minister urged farmers to reconsider the use of such fertilizers which had long time benefits on crops and farmlands. Hon Yakubu, who is also the Chairman of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC), assured the High Commissioner of peace and security in the region and said security service personnel were on high alert for any possible terrorist attack. “We are always on high alert to prevent any possible attack in the Region. The government has been providing enough logistics to that effect, and we are constantly reviewing our security plans,” he told the Canadian Commissioner. Dr. Sayibu Pabi Gariba, the Regional Police Commander, said despite the intermittent conflicts in Bawku and between the people of Doba and Kandiga, the security situation in the region was under control. He further assured the High Commissioner and her entourage of maximum security while on their visit, and urged them to go about their duties without fear. The Regional Director of MoFA, Mr. Francis Annor said all 15 Municipalities and District offices of MoFA received pick-up vehicles, 222 motorbikes and computers from the Canadian Government to support them improve on both office and fieldwork. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093









