German-assisted agricultural project ends
The German Development Cooperation (GIZ) has wrapped up its Market-Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP) initiative in the Northern Region.
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Under an eight-year implementation period, the 34-million Euro programme sought to improve the overall competitiveness of agricultural and private sector actors leading to the establishment of mango, guinea fowl, chili pepper and fish value chains in the region.
It was jointly implemented by the GIZ and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
Addressing members of the value chain committees and other partners in the implementation of the MOAP at a farewell event in Tamale, the Country Director of GIZ, Mr Siegfried Leffler, observed that the GIZ had been in the Northern Region for the past 30 years.
He said although the organisation had its own challenges in implementing some of its interventions, partners including value chain committee members were impressed with the MOAP.
He noted that although the MOAP was phasing out of the region, there were two more ongoing GIZ programmes, namely, the "Adaptation of Agro-Ecosystems to Climate Change" and the "Competitive African Cotton Initiative".
The MOAP Programme Manager, Dr Paul Schuetz, was happy with the pace of development in the Tamale metropolis, describing it as a "very dynamic development".
Touching on the successes chalked up by the MOAP, he intimated that members of the guinea fowl value chain committee had, for instance, succeeded in expanding their businesses and one member alone could sell about 5000 birds a year.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Bede Ziedeng, noted that the region had been deprived and marginalised for a very long time and so it was much appreciated when organisations like GIZ were supporting developmental efforts of the region.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, Mr William Boakye Acheampong, said the MOAP programme had immensely helped mango farmers in the region to produce to meet international standards.
Through MOAP, he noted, farmers had been trained and sensitised to GlobalGap certification and "it is heart-warming to note that some farmers in the region have been certified to produce for the international markets".
"Many farmers are also in the process of obtaining the certificate to enable them to produce to meet international standards for increased incomes," the director noted.