PERD Intervention Is A Game Changer —Chamber Of Agircbusiness

The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) is singing praises onto Akufo Addo government for its latest intervention in the agriculture sector with the introduction of the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme.

It says the introduction of the programme will help in the setting up of Cottage Industries to engage skilled youths and put the private sector on the front burner.

The Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) programme which was recently launched by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo in the Central Region is meant to reduce the country’s growing imports and also grow its exports leg.

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and Ministry of Food and Agriculture rolled out the PERD programme to develop nine commodity value chains namely Cashew, Coffee, Cotton Coconut, Citrus, Oil Palm, Mango, Rubber and Shea through a decentralized system.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Farmer Anthony Morrison told ModernGhana in an interview that the current agriculture growth and industrialization would receive a further boost with the introduction of the PERD programme.

He however advised government to leverage on the project document to secure strategic investment for some of the produce under the programme.

“The PERD project document should provide an avenue for both local and foreign investors to provide strategic investment just like Cocoa, Banana among others, which have been hedged for the next 2 to 5 years,” he advised.

A farmer, Anthony Morrison wants enough consultations with stakeholders in the industry in order to bring in the private sector to achieve the objectives of the project.

“This project is expected to drive the private sector investment into the agro processing and allied value chains so enough consultation have to be made to involve the private sector for the objectives of the project to be realized,” he stressed.

The 5-year PERD programme which will support one million farmers in 170 districts with certified free planting materials seeks to create a sustainable raw material base for the industrialization drive for the One District, One Factory initiative.

It will also engage 10,000 young graduates as crop specialized extension officers.