The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, has announced the distribution of food grants to over 800,000 farmers in the eight regions most affected by the recent dry spells.

He indicated the distribution of the food grants will begin on Thursday, October 10, 2024.

He made the announcement at the Minister’s Press Briefing, delivering an update on the implementation of measures to address the effect of the dry spell, in Accra, Tuesday, October 1.

The minister stated that farmers in the affected regions would receive 25kg of rice and 100kg of maize as part of the government’s relief effort.

“Additionally, an online grain market is being set up to allow the public to conveniently purchase maize and rice at affordable prices starting October 10,” Dr Acheampong said.

He added that the distribution of inputs and food grants will be managed through the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP), ensuring transparency and accountability.

“A team of 3,000 personnel has been deployed nationwide to register farmers and ensure no one is left out of the relief programmes,” he noted.

On long-term solutions, the minister added that the government was calling for continued investment in agricultural resilience, with a focus on irrigation and long-term grain storage.

He emphasised that the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase 2 initiative will be crucial in safeguarding the country’s future food security.

“The government has committed to an annual irrigation investment of GHS3 billion over the next decade, alongside a goal of increasing grain storage capacity by 100,000 metric tons per year for the next 16 years,” he stressed.

Dr Bryan Acheampong expressed gratitude to all stakeholders, including the World Bank, ECOWAS, and local partners, for their support in addressing the crisis.

“The dry spell underscores the importance of long-term agricultural planning and investments. The government, with support from international partners, is committed to ensuring our farmers are equipped to withstand future shocks,” the minister of food and agriculture said.

The government’s response, he assured, was expected to provide much-needed relief to farmers and stabilize food supply in the coming months.