Agricultural sector fortunes to be turned around – Pres. Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reassured Ghanaians that his government will revamp the agricultural sector and make it attractive to the most dominant working force in the country- the youth- in his first tenure.

Speaking at the 68th Annual New Year School and Conference at the University of Ghana-themed, Promoting National Development through Agricultural Modernisation: the Role of ICT, President Akufo-Addo stated that there was the need to improve modernise the sector to increase productivity and ultimately the fortunes of the country.

"We will create additional businesses and job opportunities in the areas of storage, transport, processing packaging, and marketing of agricultural produce all of which will ensure that our farmers and fisher folks earn higher incomes," he said.

Outlining the details through which the policy will be enforced the President added that: “District assemblies and traditional authorities will be assigned specific roles in agricultural development and we will adopt policies specifically targeted at supporting women in agriculture”.

He also expressed his pleasure at the interest shown by the stakeholders to introduce solutions to improve the use of ICT in agriculture and to help farmers gain more income.

On his part, the Minister-designate for the Agricultural sector Dr. Afriyie Owusu Akoto also announced some policies which he will enforce to ensure that agriculture is made attractive to the youth.

“It is in recognition of this that the New Patriotic Party in its manifesto of 2016 promised to modernise agriculture. In this regard, the government of President Nana Akufo-Addo plans to launch a national campaign with the slogan; Planting for food and jobs. This campaign is designed to encourage all citizens both urban and rural to take up farming as a full-time or part-time activity,” he said

Additionally, Dr. Owusu Akoto noted that government will aid registered farmers and some state institutions during the campaign.

“…in urban areas, production of vegetables will be promoted in backyard gardens and open spaces. Government will institutions and private companies like breweries and food processors will be encouraged to invest in plantations for food and raw material production. Prisons, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities will be given incentives to establish their own farms”.