Accra, Ghana, April 27, 2019//-The Akufo-Addo-government enjoying praises for its flagship programme: “Planting For Food And Jobs (PFJ) has moved a step forward to introduce a new programme christened Planting For Export and Rural Development (P.E.R.D).
Launching the programme at Dunkwa on-Offin in the Central Region on April 23, 2019, President Akufo-Addo said programme will enhance the foreign exchange earning capacity of the Ghanaian economy by providing a historical opportunity for addressing the economic fundamentals by expanding the capacity to earn foreign exchange from agricultural exports, and generate much-needed jobs.
With the programme designed to focus on the development of selected export tree crops, namely cashew, coffee, oil palm, coconut, mango and rubber it presents Ghana with opportunities for diversification and new sources of revenue.
He disclosed that, “A draft bill for the development of the tree crop sector will shortly be approved by Cabinet, prior to its submission to Parliament. The bill, when passed by Parliament, will establish the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA). The proposed Authority will provide policy direction and regulation for the development of the sector”.
With the programme designed to focus on the development of selected export tree crops, namely cashew, coffee, oil palm, coconut, mango and rubber, the President added that PERD presents Ghana with opportunities for diversification and new sources of revenue.
PERD a module under government’s strategic programme for the growth and development of agriculture, “Planting for Food and Jobs.” will link agriculture to industry through the provision of a solid raw material base for industrialisation, develop rural economies and the structural transformation of the national economy.
President Akufo-Addo declared that, “The selection of crops in each District depends upon the ecological zone. The initial effort in preparation of the PERD has met with resounding success with the establishment of nurseries all over the country. In the initial years of the programme, a total of 32,591 hectares will be planted with the tree crops in 191 districts”.
“With Government having revamped agriculture P.E.R.D combined with the other flagship programmes like “One Village One Dam”, “One District One Factory”, and “One District One Warehouse” policies, together, provide a historical opportunity for the complete transformation of agriculture and through that the transformation of the economy of Ghana”, he emphasised.
He made it clear that, “The over-arching vision of a Ghana Beyond Aid is not mere rhetoric nor political gimmickry. As a government, we are determined through action to achieve this vision, and today’s programme is a clear indication of our genuine commitment. With God on our side, we shall surely succeed,”
It should be recalled that Food and Agriculture Minister Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto told Parliament in February this year that the Government’s flagship agricultural programme “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) has recorded overwhelming success, and the general outcome of implementation has been very positive and inspiring.
He said the PFJ has brought about increased adoption of certified seeds, increased participation of private seeds companies and locally produced seeds and increased production of some maize, rice soya and sorghum.
He noted with satisfaction the increase in the production of staple foods crops, creation of on farm and off farm jobs, enhanced availability and accessibility to mart by small scale holder farmers through activities of the Buffer Stock Company and export of farm products such as grains, plantain, yam and fruits.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto revealed that the President rolled out the PFJ in April 2017 as government’s strategy for revamping the agricultural sector, whose performance by 2015 stood at 2.8%, adding that “the launch of the PFJ signaled a new chapter of comprehensive action to modernise and transform agriculture which was challenged by a low adoption of improved seeds by farmers, low use of fertiliser, depleted and ineffective agricultural extension service, low yields of major staple crops and low access to markets, especially by small holder farmers”.
In December last year, while addressing the media President Akufo-Addo expressed happiness that though the full picture of the success of the Planting for Food and Job campaign was yet to emerge, it was noteworthy that many farmers had expressed satisfaction that for the first time in a long while, a deliberate government policy had helped to boost their harvest.
Statistics at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture show that in 2018 the country exported tones of foodstuffs to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.
This according to market watchers is as a result of prudent measures put in place through the PFJ programme to turn around the downward trend of the agricultural sector.
By Oppong Baah, African Eye Report
