PREZ MILLS TO GO INTO FARMING NEXT YEAR

Credible information reaching Savannahnews has revealed the unprecedented attempt by Ghana’s sitting president, John Evans Atta Mills to go into a large scale farming in the Northern Region aims at disabusing the minds of most Ghanaians especially the youth, who think farming is a reserve for only the rural poor.

President Mills has at the moment acquired over 12,000 acres of land at Namburugu, a rice producing community in the Karaga District of Northern Region to cultivate rice and maize for local consumption and export.

Savannahnews has gathered that the project which would begin in somewhere March 2011 would offer job opportunities to a large number of idle youth in the Karaga and its surrounding districts.

The Atta Mills’ Agric Estate locally named “Baymoni” would have residential accommodation for some core labourers, tractors and combine harvester repairing centre, a storage facility and rice processing machines.

It was gathered that the Chief of Karaga, Naa Mahama Adam released the 12,000 acres of land free of charge for a maximum use of between 25 and 30 years, after realizing the good vision of President Mills.

Speaking to Savannahnews in an interview, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Karaga, Issah Sulemana Hussein confirmed the report and expressed the appreciation of the Chiefs and people in the district to the President for the nice vision.

According to him, President Mills’ farm project was not only to create jobs but to complement Ghana’s vision of becoming one of the leading rice producing countries in the world.

He said President Mills did not use his position to acquire the 12,000 acre land from the Karaga chief but it was giving willingly by the Chief and his cabinet who in a large extent shared the good vision of Mr. Mills.

The DCE disclosed that President Mills had since sent two delegations to the Chief to formalize the acquisition process and also ascertain whether the Chief’s decision to offer the land free of charge had not changed.

But the good news Hon Hussein hinted was that the Chief was even demanding the President to commence work before the scheduled period (March 2011).

He indicated that the search for fertile land for rice cultivation by the President started in 2009, upon assumption of office but Karaga District was settled on due to its viability in rice cultivation.

Between 1970 and 1980s, the 12,000 acre rice field was being used by the State owned Nasia Rice Company, which is currently out of operation, due to neglect by successive governments.

However, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hanna Tetteh in the middle this year 2010, visited the Nasia Rice Company and promised the ruling government’s readiness to revamp the company to process the rice produced from the ongoing Block Farm Project.

The Karaga DCE thanked President John Mills for choosing Karaga for the project with the expectation that it would reduce the high unemployment among the youth in the district.

Hon Hussein was also optimistic that the company would attract more investors to Karaga to improve the socio-economic fortunes of the people.

He therefore appealed to residents of Karaga to co-exist peacefully for government and its development partners to broaden the district’s economic growth.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with the Karaga Chief, Naa Mahama Adam proved difficult since he was chairing a ceremony to mark this year’s World Aids Day but a source at his palace confirmed the release of the land to the President by the chief for use without any charges since it was going to benefit the local people.