We Are Ready For Planting For Food And Jobs Policy - Gomoa East DCE

The Gomoa East District Chief Executive, Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo has inaugurated a 13-Member Committee to facilitate the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs policy with a called on them to be more committed.

The committee according to the DCE was to identify and develop at least two major food/ cash crops in the district and to attract investment in Agro Processing at the district and to add value for agriculture produce for domestic industrial use.

They are also expected to implement and sustain Government's Agriculture initiatives in the district. Establish and maintain electronic database of farmers and their size as well as commercial agriculture information among others.

Addressing the committee soon after the inauguration at Gomoa Afransi on Wednesday, the DCE said the district was ready to implement the policy and tasked the committee to among others ensure commodities exchange platform at the district level to stimulate Agric Business and to establish at least one major agriculture processing factory in the district.

The 13-Member committee were made up of a Rep from traditional rulers, a Rep from the Ghana Education Service, the District Co-ordinating Director, District Director of Agriculture, Rep from Ministry of Trade and Industry, a Rep from Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology and Innovations, Rep from Youth Employment Agency and the two Members of Parliament among others.

Hon. Benjamin Kojo Otoo disclosed that District Centre of Agriculture, Commerce and Technology has been established to help coordinate harmonize and sustain Government/ Donor Agribusiness initiatives to create an enabling environment for its industrialization Drive.

" This is an opportunity of us in the Gomoa East District to take advantage of it to create more jobs for the teeming unemployed youth. It's a very good policy which should be embraced by all to better the lives of our people.

I want to appeal to Nananom to make lands available go cater for farmers and potential investors to ensure that the policy succeed in the District "

The Gomoa East District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Richard Marcus Odame said over 10,000 farmers have been registered in the district to be engaged in the policy. He also disclosed that Coconut and Oil Palm has been identified as cash crops suitable for smooth implementation of the policy.

Mr. Odame further stated that over 100 youth in the area were to be employed by Department of Agriculture to nurse the Coconut and the Oil Palm Seedlings at its nursery for the farmers.

" The District Centre of Agriculture, Commerce and Technology (DCACT) will ensure the sustainability of the One District One Factory initiative as well as Planting for Food, Jobs and Investment in Gomoa East.

It will also promote effective interagency collaboration and coordination of all government Agric Industrialization drive. The centre will boost revenue mobilization of the Assembly in the form of property taxes and revenue from the business community to improve local economy "

Members of Parliament for Gomoa East and Central constituencies, Hon. Kojo Asemanyi and Hon. Naana Eyiah Quansah respectively pledged their support towards the success of the policy.