The First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in Japan, Mr. Michael Awuah has called on Ghanaians to vote massively for the NPP come the December 2020 national polls so that the party can continue with the policies and programs they have initiated to improve the livelihood of farmers in the country.
He said programs such as the “Rearing for Food and Jobs” and the “Planting for Export and Rural Development” have the potential to promote and improve the production of agriculture which will diversify income sources of farmers and increase foreign exchange earnings for the country.
He indicated 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 NPPs’ commitment to improving the agricultural sector.
This was contained in a statement signed by Mr. Kwaku Adu the Acting Communications Director of the Japan branch.
The branch 2nd Vice Chairman, Mr. Jerry Yeboah Agyemang, said NPP’s flagship program “Planting for Food and Jobs” is sustaining and ensuring progress in this important sector.
He said the Nana Addo-Bawumia led government has been able to exhibit their political will and this has led to the benefit of over 600,000 farmers in the first and second years of its implementation.
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 program 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 NPP Japan branch has scheduled Sunday, 4th May 2020 as the day for its National Congress which will take place at the Akos Hall, Saitama Prefecture, Tokyo and therefore inviting all members and party sympathizers to the congress.
Source: Solomon K. Nuwordu
