Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has committed to supporting Ghanaian farmers with tractors and credit to enhance productivity and lower food prices.
During a campaign rally in Wa East, Dr. Bawumia emphasized the critical role of farming in ensuring food security and affordability. He highlighted that boosting agricultural productivity is essential for reducing food prices and pledged to provide farmers with the necessary resources to increase their yields.
“I want to help our farmers. Farming is the key to bringing food prices down, and we are going to help the farmers increase their productivity,” he stated. “In Brazil, an acre of land can yield up to 10 tons of maize, and in China, it’s 12 tons. But in Ghana, we only get four tons. I’m going to apply successful practices from Brazil and China to our farmers in Wa East District to boost productivity.”
Dr. Bawumia also promised to establish super aggregators who will purchase produce directly from farmers, preventing waste and ensuring farmers receive fair prices.
“We will provide farmers with tractors and credit to assist with harvesting,” he continued. “Additionally, we will transition from traditional fertilizers to lime, which enhances soil fertility. Ghana has abundant lime deposits, and we will support our farmers in utilizing this resource.”
He pointed out the significant yield differences between Ghana and countries like Brazil and China, where farmers achieve much higher productivity. To address this gap, Dr. Bawumia plans to introduce advanced farming techniques used in these countries to Ghanaian farmers.
By implementing these strategies, Dr. Bawumia aims to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector, ensuring better yields, reduced food prices, and improved livelihoods for farmers.