President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured that the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme will increase maize production by 30%.

He added that rice production will also go up by 49 per cent; soybean by 25% and sorghum by 28% from current production levels.

“The Planting for Food and Jobs programme is expected to increase the production of maize by 30 per cent; rice by 49 per cent; soybean by 25 per cent; and sorghum by 28 per cent from current production levels. This programme will create 750,000 jobs in both direct and indirect employment,” he assured.

Launching the programme on Wednesday at Goaso in the Brong Ahafo Region, the President indicated that the project will offer jobs to the teeming unemployed youth who have the penchant of travelling to urban centers to seek jobs.

“A 50kg bag of NPK fertiliser, the fertiliser most used by farmers, up to now has been costing GH¢115. Under this government, farmers will only pay GH¢57.50 for it. Likewise, a 50kg bag of urea now sells at GH¢47.50, as opposed to GH¢80 last year,” he stated.

The project will be based on pillars such as: provision of improved seeds, the supply of fertilisers, the provision of dedicated extension services, a marketing strategy, and the use of e-agriculture.

Present at the programme were ministers, farmers, extension officers and traditional leaders.