Flagbearer of the governing NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has promised to harness the benefits of modern technology in the country’s agricultural sector to ensure food security.
By ensuring food security, Dr. Bawumia explains that through the application of technology farming, his government will ensure that food prices are drastically reduced hence leading to a low cost of living.
This is in line with the flagbearer’s agenda to transform the structural defects of the country’s economy with modern technology and digitization if elected president in the December 7 polls.
Ghana has seen food prices go up by significant margin and data from the Ghana Statistical Service show that locally produced food items have their highest rates of inflation. This is despite the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme which is in its second phase.
Addressing party supporters at the launch of the NPP’s manifesto on Sunday, August 18th, Dr. Bawumia pledged that his government would apply technology and modern irrigation methods to commercial farming in order to ensure higher yields.
He further states that to enhance the fertility and reduce the acidic content in farmlands, the technology of applying agricultural lime to the soil will be used in addition to the application of fertilizers. All these initiatives, the flagbearer says will be complemented by the completion of the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam.
“We want a Ghana where we can attain Food Security through the application of technology and irrigation to commercial large scale farming. We will also promote the use of agricultural lime to reduce the acidity of our soil, enhance soil fertility and get more yield from the application of fertilizers. Ghana has an abundance of limestone to this. I will prioritize the construction of the Pwalugu Dam by using the private sector financing to crowd in grant financing,” Dr. Bawumia noted.
He further hints about plans to reduce the cost and risk in the agricultural sector through financing by the Development Bank Ghana and GIRSAL. Agricultural enclaves, the Vice President also noted will be constructed with support of the government to focus on ensuring food security.
“We will also ensure food security by stabilizing the prices of food produced locally through financing and guarantees from the Development Bank Ghana and Ghana Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending. This will mainly involve upscaling the production of staple foods, investing in the preservation of staple foods, meat, poultry, and fish products, and establishing agricultural enclaves that will have irrigation, processing, and storage facilities in each region for crops or grains in which the regions have a comparative advantage,” he promised.
Food Security currently is at risk in the country as the farming zones in the northern part of the country are experiencing drought. Some of these farms in the north are also at risk of destruction as the Bagre Dam spillage commences.
It is unclear what the government plans to do to address these twin challenges.
