The new Executive Director for the National Service Scheme(NSS), Mustapha Ussif has disclosed that the NSS’s partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture(MoFA) is intended to revive farming modules of the Scheme and also spearhead the Planting for Food and Jobs strategy.
According to the Executive Director, for the past three years the Scheme’s projects has not been “functioning well”.
“As we speak now, the borehole drilling unit is almost now functioning, because we have no borehole rig. We intend reviving that unit, we also intend reviving our farming module. As a national strategic government agency, NSS is collaborating with the MoFA to take advantage of this laudable initiative to expand and revive our farms.”
Some of the new farming modules or projects the Scheme is undertaking includes 1,000acres of maize cropping at Ejura,350 maize cropping at Dawhenya ,650acres at Brenam in Wenchi (Brong Ahafo).
Other plans by the Scheme also includes an expansion to the Northern region, where they intend to promote their farming modules.
Similarly, the Director also stated that other areas such as animal husbandry, poultry, aquaculture are expected to see a facelift.
About 140, 000 prospective service personnel are expected to be deployed for the next batch of national service which begins sometime in August and September.
Those with agricultural background are most likely to be deployed to such sectors to support the farming modules.
For Mr Ussif, the idea behind reviving the farming modules is not only to boost agric but ensure food safety and also hone the skills of service personnel.
Government has recently approved an upward adjustment of national service personnel allowances from GH¢350.00 a month to GH¢559.04 a month with effect from 1st April, 2017.
The mission of NSS is to mobilize and Deploy Ghanaian Citizens of 18 years and above for national development.
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