THE PROGRESS chalked up by the country’s agriculture sector following the introduction by government’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme has been touted by President Akufo-Addo.
According to him, “We have seen the dramatic turnaround of our agricultural fortunes, due to the progressive policies that have improved the living standards of farmers in the country.”
He continued that the excellently executed policy for PFJ had laid the foundation for the agricultural transformation of Ghana to the extent that “We are able to say that our country is now a net exporter of food, and we no longer have to import basic foods like plantain and tomatoes.”
“Mr. Speaker, Ghana rice is the preferred choice in an increasing number of our homes, as the growing, processing and packaging of rice become a more established and attractive industry,” he noted.
He also indicated that during “this COVID-19 crisis we have mercifully been spared the spectre of food shortages. On the contrary, thanks to PFJ, food has been in abundance in our markets across the country. In 2017, it appeared to some like the same old refrain when we said farmers and agriculture would get the highest priority. But we can see the difference it makes when a government treats farmers with respect, and spends resources and expertise on agriculture.”
1D1F
The President continued that the One-District-One-Factory (1D1F) programme was part of the anchor on which government was building the comprehensive industrialization of Ghana.
“Much of the work has now been done to put in place the framework for the rapid implementation of projects.
“The factories that are currently in place and in production reflect the underlying principle of the programme, which is the equitable distribution of development projects around the country. The prospects of us becoming the automobile hub in West Africa are growing stronger every day with the investments being made in the country by global manufacturing giants in the automobile industry.”