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You Are Here: Home » Investment, Lead Story » MiDA to spend $241m on agriculture in Ghana
The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), Ghana, says it will spend $241 million to train Ghana’s farmers on modern methods of farming, the GNA has reported.
The investment, according to Mr Martin Eson-Benjanim, Chief Executive Officer of MiDA, will also go to increase irrigation development, land tenure and improve post harvest handling services as well as linkages to farmlands and markets.
He said so far, 30 Districts have benefited from the Authority’s projects in the Northern Sector, Southern Sector and the Afram Plains and that 60,000 farmers were expected to be trained.
Mr. Esson-Benjamin was speaking at a day’s workshop for over 60 representatives drawn from Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Kumasi on Friday.
Since the inception of the programme, about $400 million had been committed to train 40,000 farmers to help improve their yield and livelihood, he said.
MiDA will also allocate $143 million to transportation to enhance access to international air and sea ports, improved trunk road network in the Afram Plains and Lake Volta Ferry Services.
On rural development projects, Mr Eson-Benjanim added that $101 million dollars would be used to support community services such as energy for domestic and commercial uses, water and sanitation facilities, strengthen rural financial institutions and public sector procurement capacity.
MiDA has shown interest in developing agriculture in Ghana. In March 2009 the organisation declared its intention to participate in a partnership with Alliance for Green Revolution (AGRA) and Standard Bank to support smallholder farmers in Africa at a ceremony in Accra to make money available to farmers in Africa.
At the ceremony Standard Bank and AGRA signed an MoU for a US$100 million low interest loan to help assist African farmers. MiDA made a contribution of US$2 million to the programme.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi
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This is good for Farmers in Ghana since lack of knowledge and equipment result to low production or no produce at all.
Ghana should have been self sufficent in Agriculture so many years back and the country shouldn’ t be importing food or staples such as rice, maize and wheat.
The money importing these produce can be channel into Education and manufacturing as well as research and development.
Ghana has the potential to become self sufficient in food production. It takes good leadership to provide the necessary direction, motivation and incentives for farmers to deliver what they know best.
Ghana should take advantage of the global food crisis and increase food production.
The future is good for Ghana
I am a teacher by profession and a holder of B.Sc. Agriculture Technology awarded by University for development Studies, Tamale. I am a northerner and reside into the North (Tamale).
I wish to go into private Agriculture production in order to bring into practice the Knowledge acquired in the university and also to contribute my quota to the nation’s development. In which areas of agriculture does MIDA into, how will it help me to start and what are the requirement to qualify for MIDA support?
I need your guidelines.
Thank you very much for your time.
Salifu Fusheini
Email: salifufusheini@yahoo.com
I am a national service personnel who recently completed with a BSc. Agriculture Crop Science from the University of Ghana. I strongly believe that it is time the trends are reversed from net importer to exporter and it is known that Ghana has the potential to increase food production significantly to meet the needs of its populace. I congratulate MiDA and the Government of Ghana for their commitment to agriculture.I will however suggest that the issues of sustainable agriculture and climate change be seen as serious threats to agriculture in our sub region. Evidence of climate change is brought home by long periods of drought and shifting pests and disease cycles. An important question we can ask ourselves is how do we get the most from the small, fixed natural resources base agriculture depends so dearly on without compromising the rights of our future generations to feed themselves?. Food production must be increased but it should be done sustainably. Also it is important that these funds get to the hands of farmers who need them most.
We have a great agricultural future as a country and it requires commitment from all stake holders for this to be realised.
Thank you.