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The Paramount Chief of the Tepa Traditional Area, Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I, has lauded the government's flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme, stating that the policy has helped ensured the abundance of food in his area.

The Paramount observed that food has become so abundant in the Ahafo enclave to the extent that it can be used as a weapon to beat anyone who comes to the area and cause trouble.

"Because of Planting for Food and Jobs programme we have so much food that if you are not careful and you come here to cause trouble we will use food to chase you out" enthusiastic Tepahene noted.

According to the popular traditional ruler, his area has no issues with food at all, thanks to the government's flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme, adding that the major headache is how to store for future consumption.

He has therefore called on the government through the Minister of Food and Agriculture to expedite work on the construction of the warehouses in order to provide avenue for the storage of the produce.

Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem I made the statement when the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto and his entourage paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Tepa last Thursday.

The Paramount Chief observed that the PFJ was a well thought through one which must be embraced by all.

According to him, his area has witnessed an unprecedented harvest of rice and maize as a result of the support given to farmers through the programme.

He therefore commended the Minister for the initiative and urged him to continue his good works.

"My people have been telling about how the programme has benefited them. All I can tell you is that keep it up" He said.


Nana Adusei Atwenewaa Ampem further noted "all these will amount to naught if nothing is done to ensure their storage. I will therefore appeal to you to speed up work on the warehouses".

The Minister, Hon. Owusu Afriyie Akoto expressed his excitement that many more farmers in the country through the programme.

He said there was a revolution in the agriculture sector, adding that the President was committed to improving the lives of all Ghanaian farmers.

Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto noted that one of the major objectives of the PFJ initiative was to reduce importation of major food items such rice and soybean to the barest minimum, stressing that currently the battle against the importation of maize has almost been won.

He said the Ahafo enclave was playing key role in the production of rice, stating that through the programme hundreds of farmers in the area were giving massive rice cultivation.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture is on 8-day working visit to the Brong, Ashanti and the Eastern Regions.

He has been interacting with farmers, staffs of the Ministry and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain.

The Minister and his entourage have also been visiting fields and project sites to inspect progress of works on the construction of warehouses under the Ministry.