Authorities of the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) have secured 10,000 hectares of productive land at the Nasia-Nabogu valleys in the Northern Region to maximize the nation’s rice cultivation capacity.
[contextly_sidebar id=”kFx4wodbjsdQyFekNtqCtRMjzCv0PnnH”]Very much in line with the project’s objective, proper utilization of the secured land will serve as means of reducing rice importation into the country.
Potential investors are hence invited to take advantage of the project codenamed, “The Nasia-Nabogu improved rain-fed rice production opportunity.”
GCAP is ensuring that there would not be gender disparities in selecting the applicants.
As a Government of Ghana project funded with US $100 million World Bank loan, interested multinational investors are expected to integrate small holder farmers within the catchment zones into their businesses.
The project’s duration is five years and it is anticipated that those who will finally select the Nasia-Nabogu inland valley as permanent farm lands will never regret.
On the occasion of an investor conference organized in Tamale, GCAP’s project Coordinator, Alarbi Botey explained that the project sought to transform the nation’s agricultural sector into a vibrant commercial entity.
“In the quest to transform the agricultural sector into a vibrant commercial entity with the private sector playing a leading role, the Government of Ghana secured a hundred million United States Dollars credit from the World Bank and got a grant of forty five million United States Dollars from USAID to implement the Ghana Commercial Agricultural Project mainly in Accra plains and the SADA zones.”
Mr. Alarbi recalled that the project was declared effective on April 8, 2013 with the intention to intensify government’s Public-Private Partnerships in the agric sector.
He revealed that the implementation of the first phase of the Matching Grants Scheme in the Accra plains and some parts of the SADA zone has chalked successes.
He promised that the project will continue to provide matching grants to proven investors and farmers ready to operate in a Greenfield with feasible and bankable business plans.
“Under the scheme, GCAP is supporting investors who have partnered small holders under a nucleus out-grower scheme or on contract arrangements with matching grants.”
“These nucleus farmers expected to integrate small holder farmers will be provided with targeted quality services that will increase the production of rice.”
As a well coordinated project, he said a Technical Committee which is an embodiment of technocrats from various implementing institutions has been put in place to ensure value for money.
Alarbi Botey unveiled the project’s blueprint having to do with the establishment of land banks, model land lease agreement document to be made available to investors and key actors in the local community as well as diagnostic studies (land audit) for the Nasia-Nabogu inland valley project.
This, according to him will advance social auditing and accountability among the major stakeholders.
Alarbi Botey called for application from reputable contractors wishing to bid for the design and construction of irrigation infrastructure at the project site.
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Fiifi Kwetey in a speech read on his behalf commended GCAP’s management for cementing government and the private sector’s cordial relations in the agric sector.
“I am excited about this opportunity that marks a milestone in the work of the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP): after all the exhaustive preparatory work done, GCAP has the opportunity to outdoor an innovative approach that we have trumpeted over the years but never had the opportunity till now, the establishment of an agricultural growth pole in the SADA zone.”
Hon. Fiifi Kwetey highlighted, “This growth pole strategy developed by GCAP with the support of the World Bank and the USAID and to be pioneered by some of you here would gradually reduce the gap and disparities on levels of growth, development and transformation between the north and south of Ghana for the benefits of the least favored communities and districts in the Nasia-Nabogu inland valley.”
He posited that the adoption of the Growth Pole strategy has the potential for accelerating economic growth.
This in his estimation will support social progress through efficient utilization of natural resources in line with the potentials of SADA.
He pledged the Ministry’s watchdog role to make GCAP achieve its prime objective.
“The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is fully behind this initiative and will ensure that all investors and communities involved have a fair deal: I encourage everybody to avail themselves of all the preparatory documentation produced by GCAP which include the feasibility studies, the diagnostic studies and the model lease agreement among others.”
The World Bank’s Task Team Leader, Hans Jansen emphasized the need for government to support GCAP to reduce rice importation into the country.
He said GCAP will finance pre-financed the land acquisition and will outsource it at lower cost to the concerned investors.
Hans Jansen was optimistic that better and much more efficient use of rain fed rice production will be enhanced under the GCAP.
There were solidarity messages from relevant organizations in the agric sector.
Equally, some civil society organizations in the agric sector who are direct beneficiaries of the GCAP gave their testimonies.
The Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) is a private sector oriented and demand driven project financed with a loan of US $100 million from the World Bank and a grant of US $45 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access to land, private sector finance, input-output-markets by smallholder farms from Public-Private Partnerships in commercial agriculture in Accra Plains and SADA zones.
The project is being implemented in some selected communities and districts in the SADA zones comprising the three regions of the north, the Accra plains, parts of the Brong Ahafo and Volta regions.
GCAP is placing premium on farmers who cultivate maize, rice, soya beans, fruits and vegetables in the earmarked areas.
The ultimate project beneficiaries are smallholder farmers who will avail themselves to new income generating opportunities through formal arrangements with nucleus farmers in commercial agricultural ventures.
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By: Abdul Karin Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana