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AGRICULTURE

Farmers in Sekyere South receive rice seeds

Some 800 farmers in the Sekyere South district have benefitted from the distribution of 32,000 kilogram of certified rice seeds and 10 rice threshers, under the Development of Rice and Aquaculture Value Chain for Youth Empowerment (RAV CHAIN) project.

Date Created : 7/13/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Susana Danso/Ghanadistricts.com

The project is an initiative of the ‘Invest for Jobs’ program, Western Deedew Group and SkyFox Limited and have so far delivered a total 77,000 kilograms of rice seeds to farmers in the district.

The RAV CHAIN project seeks to develop a viable and sustainable agriculture system with rice production aimed at improving the rice value chain while contributing to the sector’s job-creating growth.

It is expected to create jobs for 350 youths within the rice value chain, for both out-growers and off-takers, and improve the incomes of 800 existing farmers in the district.

Team Leader of Invest for Jobs at GIZ-Ghana, John Duti, indicated that through the agreement between the German Development Cooperation and its partners, the 32,000kg of AGRA-certified rice seeds will be distributed to the farmers at no cost.

He indicated that each farmer will receive 40kg of rice seeds, which can cultivate about two acres of land. “As part of the distribution, 10 rice threshers will be given to the yet-to-be formalized Sekyere South Rice Farmer Cooperative or Association to ease its members’ difficulty of threshing rice during harvest.

We hope that during the formalisation of the District Rice Farmer Association, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and Bridgeway Development Consult will support the farmers to develop an operational and sustainability modality for the rice threshers,” he added.

The Chief Executive of Western Deedew Group, Mr. Alfred Amofa also stated that the project will not only improve livelihoods of youth in the district but also benefit a considerable percentage of the women who form about 37 percent of the total beneficiaries.

The Director of MoFA in Sekyere South district Mr. John Ankomah Koranteng commended the efforts of Western Deedew, Skyfox Limited and the German Development Cooperation for their support to empower farmers in the district.