From Michael Boateng, Sunyani
In fulfillment of its campaign promise in redeeming the economic fortunes of Ghana through improving the Agriculture sector to create more jobs, President Nana Akufo-Addo will today launch a strategic transformational Agenda, dubbed ‘Planting for food and Jobs’ at Goaso in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
As part of the preparation towards the launching of the ‘Plant for food and jobs’ campaign, the Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has inaugurated the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) made up of eleven members, chaired by the Chief Director at the Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Council, Felix B. Chahaah, who are to work in partnership with the National Organizing Committee to make the Launch a historic event.
Inaugurating the LOC, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ campaign plays a strategic role in the government’s transformational agenda for the people of Ghana saying “the campaign will transform the lives of farmers whose fortunes sank lower and lower during the previous government.”
He said even though the agricultural sector declined in the previous administration, “the sector still holds the country.”
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto noted that the Plant for Food and Job is a civic responsibility, adding “Agriculture is an instrument that can be used to transform this country, therefore, corporate bodies, institutions and all Ghanaians must join in the campaign.”
The Agriculture Minister described the campaign as a novelty saying there would be an inter-ministerial collaboration to see to the successful running and sustenance of the campaign.
He said additional 1,200 Extension Officers is to be recruited by government as well as 4,000 Assistant Extension Officers across the country as part of the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ campaign, which is in fulfillment of one of the commitments made by the NPP in its 2016 election manifesto.
The minister of Agriculture disclosed that Government has already earmarked GHC 516 million toward the campaign which is to create jobs, ensure food sufficiency and food security and facilitate the government’s industrialization drive as industries, especially those in the food processing sub-sector to have enough raw materials for production.
He said, the Canadian government is also supporting the campaign with $125 million which is to ensure provision of extension services, while other development partners are expected to announce their support soon.
Under the campaign, about 200,000 farmers across all the 216 districts in the country are being targeted to be brought on board to go into the plantation of the initial five main crops selected for the implementation of the campaign this year, which includes maize, rice, sorghum, soybeans and vegetables.
Over 700,000 additional farmers may be brought on board next year based on the successful implementation of the campaign this year. It is expected that in the four years, about five million farmers and fishermen will be covered as a result of the campaign.
The Chief Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Emmanuel Asante-Krobea described the campaign as a “radical way of accelerating food production.”
Mr. Asante-Krobea said the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ campaign is anchored on five pillars namely; Certified or Improved Seed, Fertilizer, Marketing, Extension Services and Electronic Agriculture.
He said to ensure that farmers were able to afford to buy fertilizers for their farming businesses; government had absorbed half of the current price of a bag of fertilizer. A bag of fertilizer currently sells at GHC 115.00.
“The farmer will pay only 25% of the cost and pay the remaining 25% after harvesting”, he said.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh says the campaign needs a collaboration of all stakeholders, particularly Chiefs who are custodians of the land to help achieve its fullest benefits.
The post President To Launch ‘Plant For Food And Jobs’ Campaign @ Goaso appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.
From Michael Boateng, Sunyani In fulfillment of its campaign promise in redeeming the economic fortunes of Ghana through improving the Agriculture sector to create more jobs, President Nana Akufo-Addo will today launch a strategic transformational Agenda, dubbed ‘Planting for food and Jobs’ at Goaso in the Brong-Ahafo Region. As part of the preparation towards the […]
The post President To Launch ‘Plant For Food And Jobs’ Campaign @ Goaso appeared first on The Chronicle - Ghana News.
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