Govt to fund cotton promotion program at the cost of 20.6bln

10 Jul '06

2 min read

In view of the poor cotton seed quality and subsequent low yields, the Government has undertaken the task of supporting 10,000 cotton farmers in the three northern regions.

It will finance agro inputs worth 20 billion cedis which will be channeled through the Ghana Cotton Company Limited (GCCL); Nulux Plantation Limited and Plantation Development Limited, and other reputed companies.

Announcing this, Ernest Akubuor Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, added that a total of 10,000 hectares would be cultivated within the year and an amount of 4.6 billion cedis had already been released to the GCCL for ploughing and procurement of 300 tons of certified cottonseeds, which had been imported from Burkina Faso for distribution to the farmers.<.

Additional sum of 16 billion cedis has been earmarked to support farmers through the aforesaid three cotton companies for distribution of inputs to the farmers.

Government had to contact the Ghana Mission in Burkina Faso to arrange for the import of 300 tons of high yielding cotton seeds to boost local production.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has supported Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) to develop improved seeds for use by cotton farmers.

SARI has come forward with three seed varieties of which, the National Varietals Release Committee has released two for cultivation.

Government was committed to the rehabilitation of the cotton industry as the vehicle for the revival of the textile industry in Ghana, as per the Minister's statement.

Cotton farmers have been advised to meet the organized and recognized companies on July 6, 2006, in order to avail Government support.

However, at another press conference organised by The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) in Tamale, the members refuted the Minister's assertion of the cited support to the cotton farmers.

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