The National chapter, executives and members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in Japan has commended the current government for the huge investment made in the agriculture sector.
This was contained in a statement issued by the group and copied to mybrytfmonline signed by Mr. Kwaku Adu (Acting Communications Director), where, the branch 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr. Jerry Yeboah Agyemang, stated that NPP’s flagship programme “Planting for Food and Jobs” is sustaining and ensuring progress in this important sector.
He indicated these initiatives required political will, strategic policy and enormous financial commitment from both government and the private sector.
He said the Nana Addo-Bawumia led government has been able to exhibit their political will and this led to the benefit of 600,000 farmers in the first and second years of the implementation and going on to support over 1 million farmers in the 2019/2020 farming season.
The NPP Japan branch secretary, Rev Charles Fofie Newman, said available statistics on crops yield in 2018 compared to the time of the National Democratic Congress (NDCs) crop yield in 2016 indicates that there was an increase in maize production by 89%, from the 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare to 3.4 metric tonnes per hectare.
While rice increased by 48 %, from 2.7 metric tonnes per hectare to 4.0 metric tonnes per hectare and over 200% increase for soya production.
He said this is an indication that Ghana experienced a bumper harvest in 2018 and 2019 which gingered exportation of over 130, 000 tonnes of foodstuff to other neighbouring countries.
The Kanagawa chapter chairperson, Ms. Sheila Yeboah, explained that due to the Planting for Food and Jobs, there was no single importation of maize in 2017 and 2018, while over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs were created especially among the youth.
She said the programme has attracted more youth into the farming business because they are provided with improved seeds and fertilizers as a way of motivation.
She said with this vision, Ghana is on the right track of achieving the 2003 AU’s Malabo Declaration on Agriculture.
The declaration forms part of Africa’s agenda 2063 where each country is expected to allocate at least 10% of the national budget to agriculture to achieve a 6% agricultural growth rate to end hunger.
This she believed that Ghana is likely to achieve this due to the policies enacted by the government with the huge potential of reducing poverty.
The first Vice-Chairman of the Branch, Mr. Michael Awuah on his part commended the NPP government for launching the “Rearing for Food and Jobs” and the “Planting for Export and Rural Development”.
He said the two have the potential to promote the production of high-value horticultural crops such as vegetables, employing greenhouse technology to diversify income sources of farmers and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.
He explained that the construction of the 25,000-hectare irrigation project at Pwalugu, construction, and rehabilitation of dams and dugouts to ensure all-year-round farming is a clear demonstration of NPP’s commitment to improving the agricultural sector.
He then called on Ghanaians to vote for the NPP come the December 2020 polls so that they can continue with the programs and policies they have initiated to improve the livelihood of farmers.
According to Mr. Mark Asiamah-Bosompem – Organizer, Alhaji Abdul Razak – Tokyo Chapter Chairman and Ms. Lilian Offei – Women Organizer, the NPP Japan branch has set Sunday, 4th May 2020 for its National Congress which will take place at the Akos Hall, Saitama prefecture, Tokyo, therefore they are inviting all members and party sympathizers to congress.
Source: Solomon K. Nuwordu
