Over 3,000 young people have been employed under the Akufo-Addo led-government’s Planting for Food and Jobs programme which was launched in January 2017, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed.
According to him, a total of 2,160 university graduates and 1,070 youth were employed under the programme, to register and provide extension services to farmers across the country.
Presenting the 2018 Budget and Economic Policy Statement of the government in Parliament Wednesday, Hon. Ofori Atta said “121, 000 MT of subsidized fertilizers and 4, 454.98 MT of subsidized seeds of cereal, legumes and vegetables have been distributed to beneficiary farmers.
“The programme also registered suppliers to distribute farm produce to public institutions including the School Feeding Programme, the Free Senior High School Programme, Prisons, Defence and Police, among others to ensure availability of quality food in a timely manner in these institutions,” the Minister added.
Planting for Food and Jobs, which is expected to to be operational in all 216 districts across the country, involves the supply of farm resources such seedlings to participating farmers, the first phase of which targeted the creation of more than 750,000 jobs.
Mr. Ofori Atta noted that, investments under the Planting for Food and Jobs will be increased.
