"The government of Ghana expects to launch a major program this year to boost the production of cash crops and create jobs in the agriculture sector," Deputy Local Government Minister Augustine Collins Ntim has said.
The “Planting for Jobs and Investments” program would be launched by President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo before the end of this year to develop a number of cash crops, Ntim told Xinhua in an interview on Monday.
The government intends to develop six major cash crops to the level akin to cocoa to cashew, mango, oil palm, shea, citrus and coconut, through a decentralised system, said on the sidelines of an event marking the World Food Day.
The program will help diversify Ghana’s export base while creating jobs and strengthening the country’s economy and export competitiveness.
Each of the 216 local government assemblies, Ntim said, is going to raise seedlings that will support between 10,000 and 20,000 farmers to cultivate an average of 10 acres within the next four to five years.
"To make the project effective, youths would be trained in simple basic agronomic practices to support farmers in planting seedlings raised to ensure that all seedlings raised get to the farmers and get planted." he said.
The government has also set out to establish a District Centre for Agriculture, Commerce and Technology in all 216 local government assemblies to ensure proper and effective implementation of the agriculture programs.
Source: coastweek.com
