The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr
John Dramani Mahama, says promoting agri-business will be a top priority of
his next government.
Addressing a gathering of chiefs and people after commissioning a cassava
processing factory in Kintampo on Friday as part of his three-day tour of the
Bono East Region, Mr Mahama said this will ensure real transformation for the
agriculture sector by increasing the earnings of farmers and creating more
jobs.
As part of the agric sector transformation plan, Mr Mahama said the name of
the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will be changed to the Ministry of
Agriculture and Agri-business to reflect the special emphasis on creating more
business opportunities for farmers.
He explained that the under the plan, the government will set up agric
mechanisation centres with the modern farming machinery to make the work
of farmers easier and more attractive to the youth. He added that farmers will
then be able to access the services of the agric mechanisation centres at
cheaper rates or on credit and pay after harvesting their crops.
He said the the next NDC government will create crop processing zones where
smaller factories will be established across the country to help process farm
produce and reduce post-harvest losses.Mr Mahama said his next government, in line with the 2020 manifesto of the
NDC, known as the People’s Manifesto, will establish a Cashew Development
Board to promote the interest of cashew farmers.
He said his government will also establish cashew processing plants in the
Bono and Bono East Regions to process cashew nuts for the export market..
Mr Mahama therefore urged the electorates to vote for him in the December 7
presidential election to enable the NDC work implement its manifesto plan
which seeks to create a quarter of a million jobs every year for the next four
years as well as invest two billion dollars annually over a five-year period to
create oppotunities for local businesses and stimulate economic growth.
