The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is collaborating with the National Service Scheme this year to boost the production of food and other agricultural products in the country.
According to the Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Mr Brian Acheampong, the move would see MOFA providing technical support to the NSS farms to boost the production of soya beans, rice, maize, onion, tomatoes and okra which have high market demands in the country.
He announced this when he visited the Sekyere Kumawu Economic Enclave Project over the weekend.
The trip was aimed at acquainting himself with the state of development on the National Service Farming Projects in the area.
He gave assurance of the government’s support towards the development of the NSS farming projects and commended the leadership of the Scheme for its effort and foresight towards the development of the agricultural sector in the country.
The Minister was upbeat that the move by the NSS would go a long way towards the production of food and other agric products for the local market and for export as well.
Mr Acheampong, who went to the area with a technical team, pledged to support the Scheme in the preparation of its farm lands to enhance their operations.
The Executive Director of the Scheme, Mr Osei Assibey Antwi, explained that the Scheme is poised to ensure that NSS personnel have the opportunity to be exposed to practical work opportunities so they would make good use of their skills towards the development of the nation during the service period.
He explained that if all NSS farms across the country are able to operate at full capacity, it would surely lead to the production of various food crops such as maize, cashew as well as the rearing of livestock and poultry products to boost food production in the country.
Mr Osei Assibey stated that the Scheme was repositioning itself to become a real force to solve the unemployment situation in the country.
He indicated that the skills acquired by the personnel during their service would go a long way to prepare them to establish their own business or be prepared well for the job market.
Background
The NSS currently has 8000 acres of farmlands across the country. It has 5000 acres in the Sekyere Kumawu District where the Scheme has its Sekyere Kumawu Economic Enclave Project.
The Scheme this year has harvested 700 acres of maize at Kumawu, yet to harvest 1000 acres of rice in the area and about to cultivate 300 acres of beans.
By Felix Baidoo
