The technology-driven agriculture approach by the NPP flagbearer, Dr. Bawumia to deal with the country’s food insecurity issues has been criticized as lacking proper detail and clarity.
The NPP flagbearer at the manifesto launch for the 2024 General Elections promised that his government if elected, will employ the use of modern technology to transform agriculture which will lead to higher yields. Dr. Bawumia explains that through the application of technology in farming, his government will ensure that food prices are drastically reduced hence leading to a reduction in cost of living.
But the former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Edward Kareweh is of the view that the promise of Dr. Bawumia is convoluted and vague and therefore requires specific details.
According to Mr. Kareweh, for this technology innovation plan to be credible and actionable, there should be specific details not just mere references,
“He is saying that he is going to use technology-based farming to reduce prices. The question one will ask is; what is technology-based farming? What is it actually? It is convoluted. He should be able to tell us clearly what he wants to do with agriculture. It is that he wants to bring in more tractors? He wants to bring in more combined harvesters? What actually does he want to do? Sometimes it is very difficult to appreciate what he is saying,” Mr. Kareweh remarked.
The former GAWU General Secretary further indicated that the failure of the Vice President and the Head of the Economic Management Team to implement his purported initiatives in the agricultural sectors leaves more room for skepticism.
He therefore questioned why Dr. Bawumia should be trusted to deliver transformational change in agriculture if elected president when he has failed to implement similar reforms during his eight years as Vice President
“What is it that he is not able to do now he thinks that when he becomes president he will be able to do it. We need to have that clarity because he is the Vice President. He is the number two in the country. He is controlling the economic management team. He is an economist himself and then he is talking about the economy. What is it that is left in agriculture that is left for him to do that he has not done.?” he quizzed.
Among several initiatives, the Vice President further states that his government if elected will enhance the fertility and reduce the acidic content in farmlands by applying agricultural lime to the soil 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. These initiatives, Dr. Bawumia believes will amount to a bumper harvest, reduce food prices, and translate into low cost of living for Ghanaians.
