Nana Apeedwahene has lauded the District Centre of Agriculture, Commerce and Technology (DCACT) project to be spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development but urged stakeholders to consider the sustainability of recent newly introduced project before proceeding.
According to the Chairman on Rite Agric Forum, the current government has initiated some job and economic intervention policies such as the ‘’Planting for Food and Jobs, One District, One Factory, Fertilizer subsidy” , which are new to farmers and there is a need to look at their sustainability in the coming years than introducing new policies.
He stressed that, just after the introduction of the planting for food and jobs, Fall Armyworm invaded making most farmers bump into low yield in the major season. Therefore, the Ministry of Food and Agric needs to measure the policy after the minor season to tell if ‘’Planting for Food and Jobs ‘’policy will indeed serve it vision.
The Eastern Regional Chairman of Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen, (GNAFF) cautioned the Ministry Of Local Government and Rural Development and all who matters in DCACT policy to have a second look.
He continued that, though cash crops are lucrative to both the farmer and the economy, there’s a need to access which crop will elevate the Agric sector for all farmers to focus on and master in it production.
He advised that, stakeholders should face reality and stop their selfishness and politicization of state policies.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hon. Collins Ntim has stated that Ghana, will between the next four and ten years be the World’s leading cocoa and cashew producer due to the plans and policies put in place.
According to him, the ministry of Local Government in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Secretariat of One District, One Factory has set up the District Centre of Agriculture, Commerce and Technology (DCACT) to lead the Government‘s Technological, Entrepreneurial, Commercial and Agribusiness initiatives through the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDA’s).
The project aims to support between three and five million farmers with registration and biometric data base of all the farmers.
Source: Joyce Bedeley/ritefmonline.org
