The Ghana Commercial Agricultural Project (GCAP) has promised to reduce youth unemployment in the Northern Region when the first phase of commercial cultivation of rice at the Nasia/Nabogu inland valleys takes off in April 2015.
Beginning with the first nine commercial farmers who have satisfied all the requirements, approximately 3,000 out of 400,000 hectares of land within the enclave of the Nasia/Nabogu inland valleys has been allocated to them.
[contextly_sidebar id=”UKOTMqxsz4SIiKNCVC97Od3ujkOeGI5M”]GCAP is to support them with the technical expertise to increase the nation’s rice yields through all year round farming.
This forms part of GCAP’s well intended plan to reduce rice importation into the country and to create job opportunities for the youth.
In line with the implementation processes, GCAP in collaboration with the Northern Regional Directorate of the Lands Commission has organized a day’s public sensitization forum in Nasia.
The event sought to educate the chiefs and people of the area on laws governing the acquisition of lands, especially that of the Nasia/Nabogu inland valleys secured for commercial agriculture.
GCAP’s Zonal Coordinator, Bloofied Attipoe clarified that the event was meant to create a healthy rapport between the investors and the custodians of the land.
He assured the people that smooth implementation of the project will create job opportunities for the idling youth.
Bloofied Attipoe called for closer collaboration between the investors and the people of the area.
One of the shortlisted nine investors, Manager of the Barjuwa farms, Chatin Bunuka in a Citi News interview lauded the initiative.
He considered the development as an opportunity needed to maximize his yields for local consumption and for export.
Assemblyman for the Nasia electoral area, Salifu Alhassan Adam and some youth of the community anticipated that the project will liberate them from joblessness.
GCAP’s concern is to increase the nation’s rice cultivation through Public-Private-Partnership.
As a Government of Ghana project, the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) is a private sector oriented and demand driven project financed with a loan of US $100 million from the World Bank and a grant of US $45 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access to land, private sector finance, input-output-markets by smallholder farms from Public-Private Partnerships in commercial agriculture in Accra Plains and SADA zones.
The project is being implemented in some selected communities and districts in the SADA zones comprising the three regions of the north, the Accra plains, parts of the Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
GCAP is placing premium on farmers who cultivate maize, rice, soya beans, fruits and vegetables in the earmarked areas.
The ultimate project beneficiaries are smallholder farmers who will avail themselves to new income generating opportunities through formal arrangements with nucleus farmers in commercial agricultural ventures.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/Citifmonline.com/Ghana