The EU, government, and FAO have launched a 10 million Euro project to aid vulnerable Northern populations facing food insecurity.
According to a statement issued by the three groups, the three-year project will benefit over 50,000 persons.
“The EU-funded, FAO-led project will be strategically concentrated in the northern regions of Ghana, where it aims to achieve the following outcomes: More economically sustainable and inclusive food systems: empowering communities to build resilient and profitable food production systems. Reinforced environmental sustainability of food systems: promoting practices that protect the environment and conserve natural resources, Enhanced social sustainability and gender responsiveness of food systems: ensuring equitable access to food and nutrition, focusing on women and vulnerable populations, Improved governance and institutional sustainability of food systems: strengthening”.
The EU ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly said: “This 10 million Euro emergency measure has been mobilized in record time and represents the commitment and solidarity of the EU and its Member States in the face of the rising cost of food and to safeguard food security and transitioning to more resilient food systems in Ghana”.
Representative for Africa and Representative in Ghana, Yurdi Yasmi, FAO Deputy Regional in his part said “The joint collaboration between FAO, the European Union and the Government of Ghana shows our commitment to rural families in Ghana and ending hunger and malnutrition while supporting the transition to more sustainable agrifood systems”.
The allocated funds will primarily focus on the sustainable development of crucial agribusiness value chains, including maize, millet, sorghum, groundnut, vegetables (tomatoes), poultry and piggery, the joint statement added.
The statement said the move will complement the government’s initiatives, such as Planting for Jobs Phase 2, to mitigate the adverse impacts of rising food, fertilizer, and fuel prices in vulnerable areas, in order to help alleviate poverty, hunger and malnutrition.
On his part, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong said “The Government appreciates the EU and ever reliable partner, the FAO, coming in at the time when the need to refocus our food systems deliver on nutrition and resilience is being consummated into the Planting for Food and Jobs, Phase II programme”.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
