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The standard-bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised to resume and expand the free Hybrid Seedling Program to more than 100 million hybrid cacao seedlings a year.
John Mahama said the next NDC government will ensure that cocoa prices increase annually to attract young people to cocoa farming.
Introducing the reading of the party’s manifesto held on Monday, the former president said that the NDC will continue to support and encourage young people to view agriculture as a lucrative business by establishing the Youth in Cocoa Farming Program.
He also stated that another Cocoa College will be established in the north western region to train cocoa farmers and extension officers in the west, north west, Bono, Ahafo and the western part of the Ashanti region to give enough space for Bunso Cocoa College to take care of cocoa farmers in the east, center, Volta and the remaining parts of the Ashanti region.
According to him, when he was elected to the position, he seeks to empower women by supporting them, allowing them access to extension services and agricultural inputs, and instituting an award scheme to honor women in cocoa farming.
Mahama, in his manifesto, assured farmers free primary health care for cocoa farmers when they came to power.
“The next NDC government will exempt all cocoa farmers from paying the NHIS premium for secondary and tertiary care,” he said.
He added that a biometric database will be created to allow cocoa farmers and their dependents to access free medical care at cocoa clinics, which he again promised that when he is voted into power, he will ensure that COCOBOD builds well-equipped hospitals. in each of the cocoa-producing regions. .
The next NDC government to improve the agricultural sector, among other things, will build irrigation dams, increase production of beef and poultry to meet domestic and export demands, complete the construction and commissioning of the fishing school in Anomabu and will restructure rural credit and the Eximbank to improve credit for strategic activities in agriculture and agribusiness.
