He made this statement during a press briefing held at the ministry conference room 1st floor Youyi building on Tuesday 20th July 2016.
He said that the reformation will affects 342 ABC’s countrywide with less agricultural activities especially the aspect of ‘farm for business’ for which the centres were initially established because farmers in those affected areas will not be opportune to take their produces for sales to their customers again.
The Minister of Agriculture said the ministry is gearing toward increasing food security and reduce poverty through the increase on production and productivities, they are going to maintain 52 ABC’s in the entire country which according to him will be divided into four per district.
Prof. Jones said they are reducing the ABC’s because according they want to promote agricultural activities wherever the 52 ABC’s will be strategically located stating that, his ministry don’t have the capacity to handle the huge number. He said they want to bring efficiency in terms of productivities in the sector and stop the importation of rice by ensuring local farmers take full control of the ABC’s. .
Professor Jones said, “We want to make sure we double productions and get out of our present statues in terms of development and food productivity by way of giving 80 percent of devolve funds to the farmers. For the past 50 years we have been on 50 tons of rice production per hectare which we must come out of because it is not the number that determines the efficiency but rather the number you can handle well,” he concluded.
