The Ministry of Food and Agriculture on Wednesday ,at a short ceremony in Accra received some Covid-19 PPEs and sanitary items form the Competitive Cashew Initiative (GIZ ComCashew) with funding from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and Switzerland’s Secretariat for Economic Affairs.
The items included 100 pieces of dustbin, 100 pieces of Veronica buckets, 100 pieces of receptor bucket, 98 pieces of liquid soaps, 80 pieces of face masks, 100 pieces of hand sanitizers, and 100 pieces of disposal tissue.
Presenting the items, the Ghana Country Director of GIZ, Regina Baueroche Barbosa, said ComCashew is a regional cashew project working in six African countries, including Ghana.
Regina Baueroche Barbosa underscored the fact that, the processing of nuts with social distancing poses a challenge, sitting arrangements for women in factories, transportation to work (before in bus, now on motorbikes and bicycles), working in shifts, even some processing firms have moved their staff closer to factories, according to her.
“With this and the mandatory hygiene protocols in place, processors require more resources.”
“Therefore, with support from out funding federal ministry, BMZ, it is our utmost pleasure to contribute to MoFA’s efforts against the spread of COVID-19, through the donation of support items such as veronica buckets and its associated stands; liquid soap, disposable tissue, disposable hand gloves, face masks, dustbins, and hand sanitizers.”
She stated that, for more than 10 years, GIZ through ComCashew, has contributed and continues to contribute to the German government’s development efforts in the agricultural sector, by supporting a sustainable cashew value chain, and increasing its competitiveness.
The project in Ghana is aimed at engaging public and private investors. The Directorate of Crop Services (DCS) at the Ministry is leading the implementation of the tree crop programed captioned Planting for Export and Rural Development ( PERD) program specifically the production and distribution of improved planting materials.
Minister of State in Charge of Food and Agriculture at the Ministry, Dr. Nurah Gyiele, receiving the items, expressed gratitude to GIZ/ComCashew and the Swizz State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) for their continuous support over the years.
He said Coronavirus has slowed economic activities, adding that “this has made it difficult for actors in the sector, especially staff of MoFA to constantly engage with the farmers. Gradually, restrictions are easing and things are getting back to normal.”
He stated therefore that “these items have thus, arrived at a very good time since all farm activities are on the verge of resuming.”
Dr. Nurah Gyiele noted that the cashew sub-sector in Ghana, has become a major source of income earning more especially with the implementation of the tree crop module, Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) under the Planting For Food and Jobs programme
By: Bagbara Tanko, PRO, MoFA
