In a bid to reduce the devastating impact of COVID 19 and the Russia-Ukraine war on the economy and safeguard Ghana’s food security, government is promoting the use of organic fertilizer and the cultivation of food crops that requires less fertilizer, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has told parliament.
These twin happenings he said have disrupted supply chain and increased transportation cost threatening global food security.
Government he said has also placed a temporary ban on the exportation of grains such as maize, rice and soya to enable households and farmers cope and support food supply to the citizenry.
Mr Ofori -Atta stated these when he presented a statement on the 2022 mid-year budget review on the floor of parliament on Monday 25, July 2022.
“Mr. Speaker, COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia Ukraine War have combined to disrupt supply chains and increased transportation costs which are threatening food security globally.
But, what the people of Ghana care to see is what their government is doing about it to ease the impact here.
To enable households and farmers cope and support stable food supply, Government has taken the following immediate measures: place a temporary ban on grain (maize, rice, and soya) exports; promote the use of organic fertilizers and cultivation of crops such as roots which require less fertilizer; monitor food and input prices to pick early warning signals of potential food crisis in order to take prompt remedial action; and finalise modalities for the haulage of produce from farm gates in food growing areas to the market centres” he stated.
The Finance minister assured Ghanaians that government will work assiduously to resolve the economic challenges confronting the country in the next two and a half years.
