John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), recently addressed the agriculture sector in Ghana at Wisconsin International University College in Accra.
He expressed concern over the sector’s unattractiveness and the lack of incentives for farmers, particularly highlighting the abandonment of initiatives like the greenhouses in Dawenya, which were intended to support young people interested in agriculture.
“When we were in office if you go to Dawenya, we set greenhouses there. The intention was to allocate it to young people who were interested in agriculture to produce vegetables for the markets in Accra but unfortunately after we left, my understanding was the place has been abandoned and so, we are going to make agriculture sexy and cool so that young people can be interested.”
John Mahama, Flagbearer for NDC
Mahama aimed to prioritize young people with technical skills, entrepreneurship, training, and technological support to enhance productivity and offer services to farmers.
The agriculture sector in Ghana faces several challenges, including low levels of education among agricultural holders, a predominantly rural and rudimentary nature of agricultural activity, and a lack of innovation and modernization.
The 2017/2018 Ghana Census of Agriculture report revealed that over 11.3 million Ghanaians are involved in agriculture, largely characterized by the consumption of its produce.
Incentives to Boost the Agriculture Sector
John Mahama proposed several specific incentives for farmers in the agriculture sector if he is voted into power. These incentives aim to address the challenges faced by farmers and enhance the productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector in Ghana.
Mahama promised to provide minimum guaranteed prices to farmers for cereals and other legumes. This is intended to stabilize food prices in the country by allowing the private sector to join the National Buffer stock to manage excess food in the system, even when cereal prices are low. This approach aims to ensure that farmers receive good prices for their produce and that there is enough food in the country.
Also, Mahama acknowledged the production of high-value crops like sesame and promised to support these farmers with small loans to expand and export their products. This initiative is part of his broader strategy to make agriculture more attractive and profitable for farmers.
Mahama is committed to providing farm inputs and encouraging the formation of cooperatives among farmers. This includes bringing back the farmers’ service center he launched in Gwollu in 2016 to all districts, creating a one-stop shop for farmers to access inputs, seeds, machinery, and a micro-credit scheme. This initiative aims to make it easier for farmers to get the necessary support to improve their productivity and income.
“I will do something about the roads and bridges especially from Bawiesebelle to Duu and the other areas to ensure that the farmers cart their food products to the market centers safely. This is part of my commitment to improving the overall conditions for farmers.”
John Mahama, Flagbearer for NDC
Mahama committed to revamping the cotton ginnery and providing inputs to farmers for the government to buy from them, aims to bring back cotton production. This initiative is part of his efforts to diversify the agricultural sector and provide more opportunities for farmers.
Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy focuses on reducing youth unemployment by providing sustainable jobs through agro-processing. This includes strengthening existing agro-processing factories and establishing new ones that operate under the scheme.
The policy also aims to establish a Cashew Marketing Board to deal with price fluctuations, motivate cashew farmers to produce more, and improve revenue mobilization.
These incentives are part of Mahama’s comprehensive plan to support the agricultural sector in Ghana, addressing the challenges of food security, income stability for farmers, and the overall development of the agricultural industry.
READ ALSO: GH¢1.8 Billion Tax Gap Threatens Ghana’s 2024 Budget Goals
