AGRICULTURE


KADJEBI: Gov’t committed to the development of agriculture

Mr. Maxwell Kofi Asiedu, the District Chief Executive of the Kadjebi District in the Volta Region said the NPP Government is committed to the development of the agriculture sector as a grand effort to ensure sustainable food security through increased productivity.

Date Created : 12/11/2017 5:52:31 AM : Story Author : Dominic Shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

He said the government has shown renewed commitment towards ensuring sustainable food security through increased agriculture production.

This, he indicated the government has exhibited through increased budgetary allocation to agriculture, and introduction of new policies and initiatives designed to achieve the target. Among these flagship programmes including:
1. Planting for Food and Jobs;
2. One District, One Factory; which are all aimed at supporting farmers, boost productivity, and create sustained avenues for income generation and invariable lead to the growth in the national economy.

According to him, under the "planting for food and jobs, initiative, 625 farmers in the Kadjebi District benefited from 5,250 bags NPK; 3,500 bags of Urea; 2,610kg Seed maize; 5,800kg Seed rice; and 5 sachets Pepper seeds.

The One District One Factory policy, he stated the district has chosen three commodities, Rice; Oil palm; and Ginger for development and value addition.

"It is glad to note that consultants have been engaged to facilitate the process of establishing the ginger factory and value addition to rice and oil palm. These would create jobs and employment for the teeming youth in the District", he added.

More so, the Assembly, through the Department of Agriculture is partnering with World Vision Ghana to revamp an irrigation scheme on the Asukawkaw River at Dodo Tamale. This will help rice, ginger and vegetable production. The department is also implementing a 5-year project named Modernization of Agriculture in Ghana with support from the Canadian Government. The Assembly in collaboration with Crop Research Institute (CRI) with funding from the South Korean Government had introduced long grain aromatic upland rice in the District with the aim of boosting rice production.

Also, in 2018 there will be a number of feasibility studies for commercial irrigation schemes on rivers Menu, Wawa and Asukawkaw. This will help ensure all year faming with the aim of providing sustainable job opportunities for farmers especially the youth.

It is therefore his hope that the youth will get involved with the needed seriousness and take up agriculture production as business to turn their lives around.