Major Courage Quarshigah (rtd), on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture presented two sets of farm equipment valued at ?154 million to the Ghana Armed Forces, at the Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate in Accra yesterday.
The equipment consists of two power tillers and six motorised tricycles costing ?64m and ?90m respectively. The tillers will assist the military in their land preparation, crop maintenance, irrigation, processing and rural transportation while the tricycles are to be used as intermediate means of transportation on farms.
The gesture is also to boost agricultural production in the sector.
Major Courage Quarshigah said the era which soiled the reputation of the military is gone and lauded the initiative of the Armed Forces taking up agricultural production to help combat the threat of hunger, ignorance, disease and poverty in the country.
He said the Deputy Minister in charge of Crops, Dr. Haroun Majeed, would be assignment to technically assist every unit in the military with the necessary tools needed to succeed in their farming venture.
He said, the Ministry would outline a special award for the best unit during National farmers Day every year.
The Minister called on the Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Army Forces to expand to be able to compete for contracts in road and bridge construction and building of houses for commercial returns.
Major Quarshigah said the Ministry is prepared to assist any second cycle institution and church willing to embark in competitive agricultural production.
Mr. Eddie Akita, Deputy Minister of Defence expressed gratitude to the Ministry for assisting the Ghana Armed Forces in their farming venture.
He said the equipment would improve food production.
Source: GhanaWeb
