Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his commitment to rollout policies that will engance the livelihood of farmers.
The former president says a former himself, who hails from a farming family, owes a duty to do this since that will go a long way in affecting him directly as a farmer.
He maintained that to help create more jobs in the sector, it would be necessary to improve mechanisation, provide subsidies to farmers, and establish agro-processing zones.
Speaking at a mini-rally at the Fiaso School Park in Techiman South on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
He noted that a new NDC government would establish farming centres in every district, equipped with around ten tractors and other essential machinery, including ploughs, harrows, and planters, available for farmers to hire.
He noted that payment for these services could be made upfront or on credit, with the option to settle the debt after the harvest.
“I know the majority of residents here are farmers. I am also a farmer. I have. A farm. When you travel to Bosono in the Savannah Region, where my mother hails from, I have a 300-acre farm for the cultivation of soya. I also have a 100-acre maize farm. I buy the fertiliser, which is now expensive. I buy weedicides and buy the tractor for ploughing, and so I know how expensive these things have become for farmers. I also experience them. So when I promise to roll out these policies for farmers, I know I will benefit because I am also a farmer. The new NDC government is a government for the farmer,” he added.
On August 24, when the NDC launched its manifesto, the candidate promised to establish Farmer Service Centres in every district across the country to support farmers with modern agricultural technologies and equipment.
He explained that these Farmer Service Centres would be pivotal in transforming agriculture by providing farmers with access to the latest farming technologies, equipment, and inputs.
The policy is to make farming more efficient and productive, ultimately enhancing food security and creating jobs.
The centres, he said, would play a crucial role in reducing food inflation and lowering the high cost of living, aligning with the NDC’s broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda.
The party has also promised to implement a “Feed Ghana Programme” aimed at boosting food production, ensuring food security, and supplying raw materials to industries.
Aside from these, the candidate also announced that his new government will create farm banks within designated agricultural zones.
These banks will provide farmers with easier access to land and irrigation facilities, facilitating large-scale farming and encouraging young people to pursue careers in agriculture.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana