The leadership of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) manifesto committees has outlined various strategies that their flagbearer intends to implement to reduce the cost of living in Ghana.
Addressing the press on how Dr. Bawumia plans to reduce the cost of living pertaining to agriculture, Spokesperson on Agriculture for the NPP’s 2024 manifesto, Moses Anim emphasized that a key factor in reducing the cost of living is stabilizing and lowering food prices. He pointed out that much of Ghana’s agricultural land has become severely degraded, with high acidity levels contributing to soil infertility.
Mr. Anim attributed this degradation to improper fertilizer use, continuous cropping without allowing land to lie fallow, and the loss of biodiversity and essential nutrients. As a result, food production has declined, leading to higher food prices.
To address this, he stated that a Bawumia-led government would promote the use of agricultural lime, particularly locally produced lime, to reduce soil acidity, improve fertility, and boost crop yields. This would, in turn, increase food production and lower unit costs.
Additionally, he highlighted plans for an expanded irrigation program, including the enhancement of selected dams, particularly those under the One Village, One Dam initiative.
He assured that a Bawumia administration would not only tackle post-harvest losses but also enhance value addition in agriculture, ensuring better harvesting and preservation of food.