10th November 2024 10:32:41 AM
2 mins readPresident Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has announced that the government is constructing 232 solar-powered boreholes across Ghana to enhance farm irrigation and support sustainable agriculture.
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The initiative announced last Friday during the 40th National Farmers’ Day celebration under the theme “Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture for Sustainable Food Security,” aims to address the urgent need for water management solutions as climate change threatens food security and agricultural productivity.
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The solar-powered boreholes, designed to irrigate an additional 3,144 hectares, will help farmers grow crops year-round, reducing dependency on seasonal rainfall and allowing for crop diversification. “This project not only strengthens our food supply but also provides our farmers with the opportunity to diversify and stabilize their incomes,” Akufo-Addo explained.
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A central part of this plan is the Programme for Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ 2.0), which focuses on climate-resilient agriculture to stabilize food supply.This comes at a time when the northern part of the country has been hit by a dry spell for over two months. Over 12,600 farmers have been affected, prompting government to ban the export of grains to ensure there is enough supply for the domestic demand.Finance Minister, Dr.
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Mohammed Amin Adam announced that the government has purchased a $1 million insurance policy to protect smallholder farmers in the northern region against future droughts. The policy will pay out $5 million in the event of a drought.
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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the European Union (EU), is rolling out a series of interventions to address food insecurity and support agricultural recovery in six targeted districts: North East Gonja, North Gonja, Central Gonja, Bongo, Kasena Nankana West, and Bunkpurugu Nakpanduri.
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Two Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions on improved grain storage technologies will be conducted to enhance the capacities of value chain actors, focusing on seed and grain producers. These trainings will provide knowledge on post-harvest handling of grains such as maize and millet, aiming to reduce food loss both at the farm and at storage centres.Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has underscored the climate crisis facing Ghana’s farmers.
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“Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a pressing reality that our farmers confront every day,” he stated. The government’s response includes a series of proactive measures to equip farmers with the tools, knowledge, and resources necessary to adapt to extreme weather conditions.
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Other key initiatives include the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP) for real-time weather and pest updates, soil health programs, climate-resilient crop varieties, and integrated pest management. Through these efforts, Akufo-Addo reiterated the government’s commitment to positioning Ghana as a leader in climate-smart agriculture.
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“By investing in water management, soil health, climate-resilient crops, and infrastructure, we are positioning Ghana as a model of climate-smart agriculture on the continent,” he declared, envisioning a resilient agricultural sector that supports the livelihoods of millions and ensures a secure future for the nation.
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