There Is Shortage Of Food; Not Food Crisis – Deputy Agric Minister

The Deputy Minister for Agriculture has dismissed claims that the country is faced with a food crisis.

Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo speaking to the media on Wednesday admitted that currently there is a shortage of foodstuff on the market, however, that should not raise an alarm as this is the trend during the planting season.

“Food shortage, yes, but we don’t have a food crisis. I’m telling you that during the planting season every year, it has been like this. Just that this year because of Covid-19 and fertilizer production, everything about fertilizer (things have been intense).”

Interacting with Evans Mensah on PM Express on the topic of averting food crisis, Mr Frimpong Addo noted that despite the adverse effects of the pandemic and the low supply of fertiliser, Ghana was able to withstand the shock due to the Planting for Food and Jobs programme established by the government.

He insisted that matters of food security would have been worse and the country would have joined others seeking support if not for the programme.

“Go to our neighbouring countries and see how they are suffering under Covid-19 in agriculture. We are even fortunate and they even had to come to Ghana and take some foodstuffs away.

“We have done so well with the Planting for Food and Jobs. That has saved the situation. That is why we are talking this way. Otherwise, we would also be in the same soup as they are.”

He, therefore, urged that “let’s count our blessings and reduce this pessimistic thing about hunger.”

“We are not going to experience any hunger in the country, that I can assure you,” he stressed.

His comments come as a response to concerns raised by some experts in the agriculture industry.

SOURCE: myjoyonline