Rural communities now use modern roofs, cement for buildings – Agric Minister lauds PFJ
The Agric Minister, Owusu Afriyie-Akoto has said success from the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme is manifesting in the northern part of the country.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said the rural communities along the route from the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi to Wa in the Upper West region are a perfect embodiment of this.
These communities, he told the host, Evans Mensah “are shining with metal roofs where there used to be thatch roofs.”
The mud houses in those areas are also being replaced with building from cement blocks.
The residents are riding motorbikes all over as well, “it is all coming from the Planting for Food and Jobs programme,” according to Dr. Afriyie–Akoto.
The Minister says this is not all. The government, he says plans to “transform the Savannah region” with cashew crop under the Planting for Food and Jobs.
The crop, he says is the new cocoa for the region, alluding to its lucrative nature.
900,000 jobs created
Meanwhile, the Minister says 900,000 jobs have been created since 2017 from the flagship policy.
The Planting for Food and Jobs, Dr. Afriyie-Akoto said has increased the yield of farmers, which has called for more hands.
“The demand for labour is shooting through the roof,” he said.
The Minister says these persons are on the farms, taking part in the application of fertiliser, harvesting of produce, and charting the harvest to storage and markets.
He says as the government anticipates more success in the programme, more hands would be needed, which means more jobs.
