Agric to receive massive boost - President Mills
Accra, Feb. 20, 2012
The agriculture sector is expected to receive more boosts this year with the implementation of various measures being taken by government.
One of such is the commencement of the first phase of the Accra Plains Irrigation Project.
Covering an area of about 11,000 hectares, the project is expected to complement the works of other rehabilitated irrigation dams in the three northern regions, Volta and Brong Ahafo regions which took place between 2009 and 2011.
Making this known in Parliament last week during his state of the nation’s address, President John Evans Atta Mills said as part of measures, government had put in place various measures in the various sectors such as the cotton, Shea nut, cocoa and fisheries to ensure robust production in agriculture.
According to the President, the agricultural sector received major boost in 2011 as a result of targeted interventions in the sector.
“We have also made progress on the agricultural front. As a result of targeted interventions in the agricultural sector, we have recorded significant increases in rice, yam and maize production,” he stated.
“True to our commitment to modernizing agriculture, the Government has increased the stock of rice combine harvesters, maize harvesters; additional grain-cocoon storage facilities and bore holes for agricultural purposes where none existed,” he said.
Agricultural Mechanization Service Centers, according to the President had also been established.
Touching on cotton and Shea nut production, President Mills noted that “cotton farmers in the Northern Regions can attest to how far we have gone in reviving the cotton industry while Government intervention has resulted in a sizeable increase in cotton production.”
He said measures had been put in place to ensure massive production in the sector following the production of over one million tonnes of cocoa in 2011.
According to him, a new Shea nut factory has been established at Buipe in the Northern Region, to process Shea nuts for export. The factory is expected to process close to 40,000 tons a year.
As part of measures, the President said a National Steering Committee had been inaugurated to formulate programmes and strategies for growing and sustaining the industry.
In addition, he said the floor price for purchases at the farm gate had been fixed to ensure that the farmers were not short changed
On cocoa production, President Mills said the NDC-led administration had “out-performed every government in our history.”
“In terms of the percentage of the world cocoa price that is paid to the farmer. At an average world market price of US$2,450.00 per tonne in January 2012, we are paying the cocoa farmer about 80% of the world market price,” he said.
As part of measures to ensure constant production in the cocoa industry, President Mills said a six-year cocoa re-planting programme aimed at rehabilitating old cocoa farms in the country had been launched by the Ghana Cocoa Board.
The programme, which entails the production of elite cocoa hybrid seedlings for distribution to farmers free of charge for planting, is also aimed at creating employment opportunities for the youth in cocoa growing communities.
It is also to assist them to acquire the relevant techniques and skills in cocoa production under the Youth in Agriculture Programme under.
Touching on fisheries, President Mills noted that, steps were being taken to enforce the Fisheries Regulations and protect fisheries resources.
To this end, he said some patrol vessels had been acquired and would soon be commissioned.
In addition, he noted that the implementation of a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Plan would begin this year, whilst a turnkey fish processing plant at Elmina is expected to commence this year.
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