The Minister of Agriculture and Member of Parliament for Abetifi, Bryan Acheampong, has revealed that the government anticipated the recent dry spell, following a forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency.
He made these remarks during the monthly economic update press conference in Accra.
In recent weeks, the Northern Region and parts of Southern Ghana, including Bono East and Ahafo, have been severely affected by a prolonged dry spell.
The drought has significantly impacted farmers, sparking concerns about food security across the country.
According to Mr Acheampong, the government had been informed about the impending dry spell and had taken steps to mitigate its impact.
However, he expressed disappointment that many farmers did not heed the advice and went ahead to plant their crops.
“The Ghana Meteorological Agency’s predictions were clear. We knew the dry spell was coming, and we advised farmers to take necessary precautions. Unfortunately, the message was misinterpreted, and many farmers went ahead with their planting schedules,” Acheampong said.
He indicated that, the Ministry of Agriculture had put in place several contingency measures to support farmers, including the provision of drought-resistant seeds and irrigation assistance.
However, the scale of the damage has left many farmers struggling to cope with the losses.
In a related development, the Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Karaga, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, assured that the government would fully account for all funds allocated to support farmers impacted by the dry spell.
He emphasized that transparency in the disbursement of funds is a priority and that steps are being taken to ensure the affected farmers receive the necessary assistance to recover.
Source: Jagri Boaz Binyinjom
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