This is good news for farmers in the country.
The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, has stated that he is beginning a drive to reduce and cut down on the huge food imports into the country.
He made these remarks at the launch of his One-District One-Warehouse initiative at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
The launch was part of the events to mark the 37th World Food Day by the United Nations under the theme, “Change the Future of Migration-Invest in Food Security and Rural Development”.
The event drew people like stakeholders in the agriculture sector and school children. There was an exhibition of diverse crops and farm produce from different districts.
President Nana Addo revealed that the objective of the Warehouse initiative was to increase production of staples like maize by 30 per cent, rice by 25 per cent, sorghum by 28 per cent and soya bean by 25 per cent.
The President said that government will ensure that the warehouses are equipped with modern equipment including drying and freezing systems.
“The warehouses will be certified to enable them to participate in the Warehousing Receipt System by the commodities exchange systems,” he announced.
The President believes the initiative will promote financial inclusion of all smallholder farmers as they will be able to deposit their farm produce in these warehouses and be able to lease them to address their financial needs.
This implementation will advert the issues of farmers selling their produce at cheaper prices due to fear of wastage.
“They can store their produce in a more efficient and effective manner. They can keep the crop to meet international standards. Warehousing will promote non-traditional exports,” he said.
The warehouse program will see to the construction of a 1000 metric tonnes capacity warehouse in each of the 216 districts across the country.
As part of the event, President Nana Addo laid the first block for the foundation of the first warehouse at Ejura which is a maize dominated farming community.
A new logo for the One-District, One-Warehouse initiative was also launched at the event.