Guided by the single idea that “democracy only works when political leaders put the common good ahead of personal interest”, H.E John Dramani Mahama between 2012 and 2016, worked assiduously to ensure food security in Ghana.
Several investments and human-centred policies were rolled up to achieve food security.
1. Investment in the production of rice, poultry, shea, cashew and other agro-processing crops.
A whopping GHS 120 million was invested to expand the production of these products. Out of this, the rice production sub-sector alone received GHS 22 million.
This resulted in a massive increase in the local production of rice from 301,900 metric tonnes in 2008 to 604,041 metric tonnes in 2014.
Local production of cereals like maize also increased from 1,470,076 in 2008 to 1,761,834 in 2014. The production of roots and tubers like Yam and Plantain also increased from 4,894,848 and 3,337,690 to 7,118,890 and 3,785,891 respectively.
The production of poultry increased from 39,816,000 in 2008 to 68,511,000 in 2014. The increase in livestock (poultry) production led to a corresponding increase in domestic meat production. This is unprecedented.
2. Agric Mechanisation and Irrigation
In resolving the ancient subsistence agriculture in Ghana, H. E JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA distributed hundreds of tractors, harvesters, and other farm machinery to farmers across the country.
The total number of Agricultural Mechanization Services Centres went up from 57 in 2009 to 89 in 2014.
This increased the total area of farms serviced by these mechanization centres from 47,880 hectares in 2009 to 74,760 hectares in 2014. New irrigation projects were also constructed at Nobeko, Kaniago, Aponapon, Mosease, Adiembra, Kokrokk, Dodoekorpe, Akurobi etc.
This led to an increase in total food production from 24,172,554 metric tonnes in 2008 to 32,276,505 metric tonnes in 2014. Rice production alone increased from 301,900 in 2008 to 604,041 metric tonnes in 2014.
3. Fisheries and Aquaculture
Several cold stores and other infrastructural facilities were initiated and completed to improve production in the fishing industry by JDM.
Significant among them is the construction of the Anomabo Fisheries College, Secondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly Cold Store, Kormantse Cold Store, Nyanyanor Cold Store, Prampram Cold Store, and several Outboard Motors.
4. The Cocoa Industry
In 2014, the John Dramani Mahama led government increased producer price of cocoa by 62.74%, ie. from GHS 3,392.00 per tonne to GHS 5,520.00 per tonne. In 2015, it was further increased to GHS 6,800.00.
The free fertilizer application (Hi-Tech) programme for cocoa farms through the Ghana Cocoa Board was also initiated.
In the 2014/15 crop season alone, COCOBOD distributed 50 million improved cocoa seedlings free of charge to farmers to replace aged and dying trees. 60 additional seedlings were distributed in the 2015/16 cocoa season.
This resulted in job creation for almost 8,800 youth in 87 cocoa growing communities.
Clearly, H. E JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA’S contributions in the country’s Agricultural Sector is unparalleled and deserves the necessary commendation.
The Writer is Benjamin Odoom , A Youth Activist and Final Year MPhil in Political Science Student at the University of Education, Winneba
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