Management of the Jasikan District Assembly has revealed that the assembly has wooed investors for the establishment of four factories in the district in fulfilment of the New Patriotic Party government’s One District One factory Initiative.
The factories, made up of two cassava and one ginger processing and floor tiles manufacturing respectively, according to the District Chief Executive, are expected to be fully operational within the next three years.
Hon Lawrence Kwami Aziale made the disclosure when addressing audience at this year’s Farmers Day celebration at Akaa in the Jasikan District in the Volta region.
He disclosed that a total of about 35,000 acres of land have already been released by the various chiefs in the district for the construction of the factories and the cultivation of cassava and ginger as raw materials to feed the factories.
Hon. Aziale noted that the district has gone extra mile of the central government’s vision of providing each district with a factory thereby increasing theirs to four factories.
The DCE said the Jasikan district is endowed with both material and human resources that can support the President’s initiative to create jobs for its citizens, especially the youth.
He indicated that the assembly has responsibly tapped into the President’s vision of developing the country through industrialization with the one district one factory initiative.
He stated that the leadership of the Assembly in this regard is partnering with four investors to vigorously go into cassava and ginger cultivation and processing as well as floor tile manufacturing in the district.
The Chief Executive said the project, when materialized, will create over five thousand direct jobs and give residents of the district several economic benefits.
He pointed out that the geographical demarcation of the District, thus Eastern, Central and Western Jasikan is strategic for the siting of the factories in each location according to their respective natural resources.
Hon. Aziale further disclosed that management has been able to form five hundred farmer groups with ten members in each group in Western Buem alone ready to kick start cultivation of cassava and ginger in commercial quantity to feed the respective factories.
Hon. Lawrence Kwami Aziale noted that agricultural activities especially farming have been left to the aging population, a development he described as detrimental to the socio-economic development of the people.
He advised the youth to take advantage of the numerous programmes and policies of the NPP administration and go into commercial farming instead of tracking to urban centres for non-existent jobs. “ We are encouraging the use of modern farm equipment such as tractors and combined harvesters as well as new farm technologies for improved yield in order to make farming attractive venture for the youth, the DCE advised.
He assured that the government would continue to create an enabling environment in the agricultural sector to change the lives of rural folks.
Hon. Lawrence Kwami Aziale commended all gallant farmers in the country especially those in the Jasikan district for their hard work and dedication to the state and urged them to continue their good and selfless service to the nation.
Source: Gideon Duodu & Eric Gyimah
