country could achieve self-sufficiency in rice production within the
next two years.
He said that the prediction was based on the large quantities of rice
being produced at Aveyime and other rice growing areas, especially in
the Northern part of the country.
Mr Ahwoi explained that for that target to be achieved there was the
need for Ghanaians to show preference to locally produce rice adding,
that Ghana currently imported about $500 million worth of rice annually.
He was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Kwahu North
District (Afram Plains), organized as part of a three-day visit of
President John Evans Atta Mills to the Eastern Region to thank the
people for voting the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to power in
Election 2008.
He announced that government was to establish a Buffer Stock Company
Limited to guarantee prices and ready market for agriculture produce in
the country.
Mr Ahwoi said consequently, the President had given the Ministry mandate
to take over all abandoned maize silos and warehouses in the country for
the project to take of.
He said under the programme, the abandoned silos in the district would
be rehabilitated for storage of maize.
Mr Ahwoi said the Ministry would build markets within the district for
farmers to sell their produce.
He said as part of efforts towards agriculture mechanization in the
area, the Ministry was encouraging private tractor operators to support
farmers in the area and that a private company had established
facilities to that effect.
Mr Ahwoi said to help reduce pollution of sources of water and the
destruction of farms by animals, the Ministry in collaboration with the
District Assembly was to establish fodder banks at Forifori, Amankwa,
Wawase and Memkyemfre.
He said such facility would help provide water, fodder and sheds for
cattle and herdsmen.
Mr Ahwoi said government would create a green belt to reduce bush fires
and sink more boreholes to provide potable water for the people
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