Dr. Afriyie Owusu Akoto
Government’s Greenhouse farming agenda is receiving a major boost with the training of some 120 specialists on greenhouse farming in Israel.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has constructed three Greenhouse farming villages in Kasoa, Dawhenya and Akomadan and are expected to contribute to a boost in vegetable farming.
Each site comprises about 50 hectares of land each of which can accommodate up to 26 greenhouse facilities.
Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, made this known at his first news briefing in Bono East Region capital Techiman.
He said a first batch of 51 students have already completed the training in Israel with a second batch of 71 about to start their training.
He said the essence of the program is to give the graduates hands-on practical training in greenhouse farming practices.
“The trainees will also be attached to host farmers who are required to train them in various forms of agricultural practices such as irrigation, aquaculture, and vegetable farming, among others.
Beneficiaries of the training will also be given assistance in securing logistics to support medium and large scale vegetable production in other parts of the country,“ he said.
Mr. Nkrumah said this intervention is part of the general Greenhouse agenda which is a module under the Planting for Food and Jobs and is expected to boost the agenda for food security, fair prices and exports.
The Akufo-Addo administration remains committed to increasing productivity in Agric across its various parts of the value chain for the benefit of the people of Ghana.
BY Melvin Tarlue