In a bold move to address unemployment and drive economic growth, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a strategic plan to invest heavily in agriculture.
With a particular emphasis on rice farming, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Kwame Awuah-Darko has said that this initiative, a key pillar of their 2024 manifesto, is expected to create over 200 thousand sustainable jobs while reducing Ghana’s dependency on rice imports.
In an interview he stated that an amount of GHS700 is spent on each NABCO trainee as monthly allowance.
NABCO has since its inception employed 100,000 people, making a total of 2.5billion in the last 3 years.
The same amount invested in rice production would have developed 42000 acres of rice farm, adding that the 47000 multiplied by 7 would have already provided 294 thousand sustainable jobs for these young chaps.
“Rice production alone using the amount of money spent on Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) Trainees would have started a 42000 acres of rice farm. If this was implemented from the start, there would have been more than 200 thousand sustainable jobs. The NDC are better managers of the Ghanaian economy due to the party’s consistent track record of investing in the productive side of the economy as against the NPP’s track record of wasteful expenditure, he said.
Prioritizing Rice Farming to Boost Food Security and Job Creation, Mr Awuah-Darko who doubles as a farmer further stated forms part of the NDC’s plan to achieving food sufficiency.
The party, he said will achieve this through expansion of Irrigation Systems in rice-producing regions like the Northern, Volta, and Ashanti regions.
He further mentioned that the NDC aims to increase rice yields and reduce the risks associated with rain-fed agriculture.
“Investments in modern farming equipment and technologies will improve productivity and efficiency, allowing farmers to cultivate rice on a larger scale, Affordable loans and subsidies for inputs like seeds and fertilizers will enable smallholder farmers to expand operations and establish rice mills and packaging facilities will ensure that locally produced rice meets international standards, boosting domestic sales and exports.
