... reminds government of promise to cut rice imports

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Thursday congratulated farmers and fishermen on the occasion of Farmers' Day, which falls on Friday, and reminded government of its promise to cut rice imports by at least 30 per cent to boost local production of rice and maize.

"In the same vein, we urge government to take immediate steps to restore the quality of cocoa produced in Ghana to the world best and also to initiate measures to address the problems within the poultry an cotton industries to prevent a total collapse of these sectors," it said.

In a statement signed by Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary, the NDC recalled the efforts of farmers and fishermen in turning around a hopeless food situation during the drought in 1983 into a bumper harvest within 12 months.

"This exceptional achievement of our farmers and fishermen led to the institution of the National Farmers' Day by the then progressive PNDC government to honour them and to encourage them to do better." The NDC said it was gratifying to note that the Farmers' Day had grown from its humble beginnings to what it had become today.