The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon Dr. Afriyie Akoto, at a programme dubbed ‘Agricultural Sector Programme Review’ at the Coconut Grove Hotel on 20th November, 2018 reviewed the government’s strategy to boost the Agricultural Sector to exceed what has been achieved during the year 2017/ 2018.
In his presentation, the minister mentioned that agriculture is key to the government. Programmes such as ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’, according to the minister, are manifestations of government’s desire to prioritise agriculture and ensure that there is food security in the country.
The minister also lauded the effort of the small holding farmers. According to him, the backbone of the agricultural industry is the small holding farmers, especially in the cocoa sector. “The small holding farmers contribute 90% to the agric sector, the minister said.
To the minister, the future prospects of Ghana’s Agricultural industry will depend, largely, on infrastructure and marketing. He expressed the situation whereby farmers see their produce while away because of the lack of storage facilities. According to the minister, eighty-one (81,000) metric tons warehouses are being constructed to address the issue of post-harvest losses.
The minister also said his ministry is working closely with the ministry of roads and highways to ensure that the warehouses are accessible by all farmers. “I am working closely with the ministry of Roads and Highways where all feeder roads in the country whether for maintenance or construction, have to be submitted to the Agric Ministry”.
He applauded President Akuffo Addo for launching the Ghana Community Exchange which is the first of its kind to be launched in West Africa. This, he said, will serve as a place where produce will be exchange for more income to the farmer and the country as a whole.
The second phase of the Planting for Food and Job will include a new module which will focus on livestock and poultry, said the Minister. The state spends close to 11 million dollars on poultry imports. He believes that the new module will boost the capacity of local farmers and see to it that the state limits drastically the importation of poultry into the country.
He said that two thousand seven hundred more extension officers will be employed to help the agriculture sector to boost its productivity. According to him three hundred motorcycles will be distributed to the officers to facilitate their work.
Source: agrictoday.com.gh
