The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has hinted that a total of 16,141 farmers made-up of 11,495 males and 4,646 females also benefited from subsidized fertilizer and improved seeds under the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
In 2020, 413,754 seedlings of coconut, oil palm and cocoa were distributed to 1,905 females and 816 male farmers under the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD).
He said under the Rearing for Food and Jobs initiative, the Region was currently brooding five thousand cockerel chicks to be supplied to 500 beneficiary farmers in ten MMDAs.
Also, 1000 pigs are expected to be distributed to 200 farmers in MMDAs in the region, he said, adding that the programme was stalled by an outbreak of swine fever disease in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
Mr Darko-Mensah gave the hint when he took his turn at the ‘Western Region Day” at the 36th Farmers Day celebration held at Techiman in the Bono-East Region. It was on the theme: “Ensuring Agriculture development under COVID-19 Opportunities and Challenges”.
He said as of the end of 2019, a total of 22,696 farmers had benefited from the special rice project and were able to produce 51,509.70 metric tonnes of rice, making the region self-sufficient in rice production.
The Regional Minister said under the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs, the Region benefited from 20 community fish ponds in the Wassa East District.
He said the region saw a 248 per cent increase in Technology Adoption as a result of enhanced extension services delivery and that 174 motor bikes were distributed to Extension Officers which enabled them to effectively reach a total of 23,348 farmers this year.
He announced that the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) initiated a five million coconut project in which five million coconut seedlings were being distributed to coconut farmers in the Region.
Mr Darko-Mensah advised that the various pro-agriculture initiative such as the Planting for Food and Jobs (PJF), Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) and Aquaculture for Food and Jobs(AFJ) should be taken seriously and patronized by all.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
