In a bold move to address unemployment and drive economic growth, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has unveiled a strategic plan to invest heavily in agriculture.
With a particular emphasis on rice farming, a leading member of the National Democratic Congress, Kwame Awuah-Darko has said that this initiative, a key pillar of their 2024 manifesto, is expected to create over two hundred thousand (200,000) sustainable jobs while reducing Ghana’s dependency on rice imports.
In an interview he stated that an amount of GHS700 is spent on each NABCO trainee as monthly allowance. NABCO has since its inception employed 100,000 people, making a total of 2.5billion in the last 3 years.
The same amount invested in rice production would have developed 42000 acres of rice farm, adding that the 47000 multiplied by 7 would have already provided 294 thousand sustainable jobs for these young chaps.
“Rice production alone using the amount of money spent on Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) Trainees would have started a 42000 acres of rice farm. If this was implemented from the start, there would have been more than 200 thousand sustainable jobs.
“The NDC are better managers of the Ghanaian economy due to the Party’s consistent track record of investing in the productive side of the economy as against the NPPs track record of wasteful expenditure,” he said.
Prioritizing Rice Farming to Boost Food Security and Job Creation
Mr Awuah-Darko who doubles as a farmer further stated that the party plans to achieve this through expanding Irrigation Systems by scaling up irrigation schemes in rice-producing regions like the Northern, Volta, and Ashanti regions, the NDC aims to increase rice yields and reduce the risks associated with rain-fed agriculture.
“Investments in modern farming equipment and technologies will improve productivity and efficiency, allowing farmers to cultivate rice on a larger scale, Affordable loans and subsidies for inputs like seeds and fertilizers will enable smallholder farmers to expand operations and Establish rice mills and packaging facilities will ensure that locally produced rice meets international standards, boosting domestic sales and exports.”
Synergy with the 24-Hour Economy Initiative
The NDC’s manifesto also outlines plans to introduce a 24-hour economy, designed to maximize productivity across various sectors, including agriculture. This initiative will complement the agricultural investment strategy by:
- Extending processing and manufacturing operations for agricultural produce to operate round the clock.
- Establishing logistics hubs to ensure the seamless distribution of farm produce nationwide.
- Creating night markets in urban and peri-urban areas to boost trade and reduce post-harvest losses.
- Enhancing rural electrification to support agro-industrial activities.
“The 24-hour economy initiative ensures that agriculture doesn’t end with farming. It creates room for processing, packaging, and marketing to operate without downtime, creating jobs throughout the supply chain,” he explained.
