The Coronavirus pandemic took a heavy toll on human lives and economic activity which has made the eradication of poverty and hunger impossible without urgent focused by the internal cooperatives’ effort directed at long-term development.
This was said by the partners during the launch of the Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods and Food Systems exposed to Covid-19 at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture Information and Resource Centre in Accra.
“The coronavirus pandemic and the climate crisis must drive home the message to all rich and poor that their destinies are tangled” Rukia Yacoub, World Food Programme Representative and Country Director in Ghana, told Representatives at the launch.
The Country Director mentioned that there is a need for a common plan and strategy for internal recovery and the survival and prosperity of all in the region.
Well-targeted social protection cushions the poor protect them from economic destitution and prevents the complete erosion of long-term gains in human development.
She added that they are providing cash transfers to protect the livelihoods, incomes, and resilience of 5,000 extremely vulnerable households in the poorest districts in the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East, and Upper West regions, from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and from climate change.
“The World Food Programme’s role is to support the implementation of the cash transfer component of this Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods and Food Systems project which will provide US$ 1.5 million to 5,000 extremely vulnerable households. The World Food Programme itself has also contributed US$ 300,000 to this project. The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies, building prosperity, and supporting a sustainable future for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change” she said.
Emphasizing the profound economic damage that the pandemic is having on rural folks where poverty and hunger are on the rise, Mr. Robert Patrick Anokobiah, Acting Chief Director for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture said the challenges of the rural folks need new innovations within the agriculture value chain to provide good agricultural infrastructures across the country.
“Regional cooperation with development organizations was crucial for our struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic and it continues to be necessary so that together we can tackle the effects of the pandemic.
This project is targeting 25,000 households including youth, persons with a disability, and smallholder farmers between the ages of 18 to 35 with each person receiving about GH¢ 1000.
The government will continue focusing on technological solutions and innovative financing models” Mr. Anokobiah said.
According to the Partners, fighting growing global hunger and poverty needs to be addressed through global partnerships and greater long-term investments in the rural people who produce food for the world, but often are the poorest and hungriest.
“This initiative will enable the vulnerable to be better and able to build resilience against shocks such as the Covid-19 pandemic.
An estimated 63 percent of the world’s poor people work in agriculture, the overwhelming majority are rural smallholder farmers. While they produce much of the world’s food, they remain vulnerable to hunger and often struggle to make a decent living” they added.
The immune system is the organs and processes of the body that provide resistance to infection and toxins. Organs include the thymus, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. As essential as the immune system is it needs to be taken good care of with good food nutrients.
There are some foods that weakened the immune system which needs to be avoided. These foods are;
Processed foods Processed foods tend to contain unhealthy fats, sugars, and additives, which can improve taste, texture, and shelf life. These may weaken the immune system.
Some processed foods include: Microwave meals Breakfast cereals Chips Cakes and cookies
One 2017 study found that eating foods containing additives may lead to an increase in the risk of several immune conditions. The study looked at additives such as sucralose, aspartame, carboxymethylcellulose, polysorbate-80, sodium, and carrageenan.
The researchers point out that people who eat a diet that contains foods with additives are more likely to have obesity, immune inflammation, and insulin resistance.
Eating sugars and fats in processed foods can also lead to consuming too many calories, which can increase a person’s risk of obesity.
When a person has obesity, this leads to inflammation. This inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, cirrhosis, and liver failure, as well as immune system dysregulation.
Foods high in sugar Consuming foods that are high in sugar may weaken the immune system.
Some foods that may be high in sugar include: Preserves, marmalades, and confectionary Cookies and cakes Flavored milk and sweetened dairy products Sugary breakfast cereals Sugary drinks, such as soda People with high sugar diets have a higher risk of several chronic conditions, including coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Also, eating a diet high in sugar may limit the immune system’s effectiveness in combating disease. It may do this by reducing the effectiveness of white blood cells and potentially by increasing inflammatory markers in the blood.
Refined carbohydrates Processed foods and refined carbohydrates, such as white flour and refined sugar, are associated with increases in inflammation and oxidative stress, which can impact the immune system.
Some foods that contain refined carbohydrates include: White rice White bread Refined sugar
Women form a greater proportion in Ghana’s agriculture value chain yet they struggle to get market accessibility for their produce. The advent and the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic have affected farming communities across the country, with women in agriculture being hit the hardest.
Upon seeking redress to this issue, Agrihouse Foundation has provided market accessibility for the women in the Agriculture value chain called AGROWOMAN MARKET PLACE.
“Our overall goal is to support women farmers and agribusinesses to recover fully, gain some stability, increase their income, enhance the nutrition of households and support the livelihoods of women farmers, by developing and providing them with a WOMEN-ONLY online and direct marketing platform, to sell and market their products and services basically at no cost,” Alberta Akyaa Akosa, the Executive Director of Agrichouse Foundation said.
Agrowoman marketplace is an innovative way of influencing food systems and market access for smallholders as it creates value for the agri-food chain.
According to her, contactless payments have become the norm amid the worldwide pandemic response, the platform when developed and rolled out would help farmers avoid physical contact with buyers and cash transactions as they sell their produce in direct compliance to social distancing which would reduce the spread of infections.
Speaking to Agric Today, Madam Alberta said the Foundation seeks to use the event to highlight, ‘International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste,’ commemorated annually on September 29, to highlight the critical need to reduce food loss and wastage around the world. She said there are two phases of the Agric-Women Market Place and they are Direct Market Place which would be held on the Last Friday of Every Month and the Digital/Online Market Place which would be an online marketplace, created by women, for women and managed by women.
“Agrihouse Foundation will be leading the commemoration of this day in the country, come September, as part of efforts to support Ghanaian women farmers and also, highlighting the issue of post-harvest losses, which is a big challenge in the agricultural sector”, she added.
She called on Ghanaians, and all stakeholders in the agricultural sector to mark the date on their calendars, and use it as an opportunity to push forward and support events and projects that scale up the efforts of Ghanaian women farmers, as they face intensified agricultural challenges in these times of COVID-19.
To cushion the women in market accessibility, the communication officer of Ghana Commodity Exchange, Madam Roselyn Siaw said the institution has provided market accessibility for the commodities that are listed on the exchange market.
“We have warehouses at Ejura, Bolgatanga, Wenchi, Kintampo, Tamale, Tumu, Sandema, etc. any farmer (woman) who has a product that has been listed on the exchange should store it at our warehouse after harvesting. Our warehouses are fumigated, cleaned, we dry and repackage the produce to meet the standards to appeal to the international market”, she explained.
Aside provision of the warehouse for the storage of farm produce, Mrs. Siaw said the institution has partnered with certain banks to give loans to farmers without any collateral. She noted that any farmer whose produce is at the warehouse is issued a receipt and when the receipt is submitted to the banks at the areas where the warehouses are situated loans would be granted to them.
She urged all women in the agriculture sector to take advantage of their products and services to grow and scale up their businesses.
Speaking to some of the women in agriculture at the event, Margaret Afriyie, a nurse and a farmer extolled Agrihouse Foundation for such a wonderful initiative to provide market access for the women in the agriculture sector.
She underscored how she combines her nursing work with farming. To her, she engages the community members in her farming business. “The community members are my backbone in the agribusiness, I cannot do without them. I make sure I involve them in all my activities, in fact, they are the main reason for the agribusiness”, she said
She challenged other women in agriculture to work sedulously irrespective of where they find themselves in the value chain to achieve their goals.
Some farmers are in life-and-death grief in the Upper East Region as an automobile company said to have been officially recommended to them by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is believed to have fled with some large amounts of cash they deposited individually to acquire subsidized tractors and other automobiles for farming purposes.
Amos Abane, one of the affected farmers, told Starr News he made a partial payment of GH¢36,200 in 2013 (8 years ago) to ADPL Auto Services for a 70-horsepower tractor valued at GH¢76,000. Then, he was assured that the tractor would be delivered in 3 months’ time as part of an agreement he had with the company.
His expectations grew into uncertainties as the company failed to keep its word. Anxious, he placed a complaint call to the company soon after the promised period had elapsed; but the firm, in response to that call, rather sought to dispatch a 50-horsepower tractor to him on the excuse that the price of the 70-horsepower brand he requested had been increased generally on the market.
“They said I should go for the tractor at the MOFA office in Bolgatanga. When I went there, it was a small one I met— 50 horsepower— not the 70 horsepower that I paid for. I called them again and told them the agreement was 70 horsepower and asked why they were giving me 50 horsepower without a trailer and a harrow.
“I asked them how much I was supposed to pay for the small one even if I would have to accept it like that. They told me it was the same cost as the 70 horsepower because inflation had made tractor prices go up. I said the 50 horsepower could not serve the purpose. Then, they said if I wanted the 70 horsepower, the price had gone up and that I should add Gh¢15,000 to the Gh¢76,000. I paid the extra Gh¢15,000 but the tractor never came,” Abane said.
He said he kept pressing for the tractor until the company finally came clean about its inability to provide the tractor and promised to return his money. Later, he received a letter from the company saying the promised refund would be made through a post-dated cheque in 6 months’ time. The cheque came through MOFA but it could not be processed when Abane took it to a branch of the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) in the Upper East regional capital, Bolgatanga. The amount that was discovered in the company’s account at the bank at the time was just a little over GH¢36, according to him. He says the company does not answer telephone calls from him anymore since then— since 20th August 2015. The company “fails” to show up at High Court
Robert Ababil, another agro-businessman, suffered the same disappointment after he paid Gh¢17,500 to the same company to procure a subsidized Kia truck for a sachet water packaging business and for farming activities.
Ababil also complained to the company in a telephone call about the non-delivery of the long-paid-for truck and he, too, received a post-dated cheque from the company for a refund of his money. But, as it did happen to Abane at last, he, too, had his hopes dashed after the cheque “bounced back in his face” at the ADB’s branch in Bolgatanga. The amount of money he met in the company’s account could not even help him back home on a cheap public minibus if he withdrew it at the bank.
Frustrated, Ababil and Abane resorted to legal action. But they became even more depressed as the company reportedly remained evasive by failing to appear at the Bolgatanga High Court Two from the time the case began in 2015 up to a moment in 2016 that saw the two complainants suddenly decide on their own (out of increasing weariness) to stop appearing for the hearing.
“What I am going through is worse than what anyone can call challenges. I was selling cement and I put all the money I had from that cement business into trying to purchase a tractor for farming. That ended it. Now, I’m out of business. The most painful part was when my children got admissions and couldn’t proceed. One of my children gained a university admission to study architecture but I could not raise money for him to join his colleagues because of what had happened to me. He is now in Kumasi working miserably as a loading boy at a lorry station.
“My daughter also had admission at the Navrongo College of Education. The extended family had to sit in a meeting to mobilize money in bits before she was able to go to school. I have suffered a lot. Ababil’s business, too, as I am much aware, is suffering today because there is a limit to how far he can distribute the pure water he is selling without the Kia truck he paid so much for. He is struggling seriously,” Abane said.
Telephone calls placed to the company by Starr News upon receipt of the complaints from the bankrupt farmers went unanswered. When Starr News approached authorities at the MOFA’s regional department in Bolgatanga with copies of documents bearing the MOFA stamp and detailing transactions that have left some already-poor farmers in the region rather more impoverished, the authorities said they would contact the “National Agric Engineering Directorate” on the matter and investigate the staff involved in the deal. Starr News will keep the spotlight on this subject.
Fibroids are abnormal growths in the uterus. They’re also called uterine fibroids, myomas, and leiomyomas. Fibroids aren’t cancerous or life-threatening, but they can sometimes cause complications and health problems.
Fibroids form in and around the uterine walls. They’re made of muscle and other tissues. They may be as tiny as a seed or grow larger than a tennis ball. You may have multiple fibroids or just one.
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes fibroids. Having overweight or obese increases your risk, as does having low levels of some types of nutrients.
Prevalence. Almost 80 percent Trusted Source of women has fibroids in their lifetime. This condition may also be genetic. You’re at higher risk if your mother or sister has fibroids.
Fibroids can cause symptoms and complications such as:
Pain Heavy menstrual bleeding Constipation Anemia Difficulty getting pregnant Miscarriages.
However, only 20 to 50 percent of trusted sources of women with fibroids have symptoms. In most cases, treatment isn’t needed. Your doctor may recommend waiting and watching to see if the fibroids go away on their own.
While foods can’t treat or prevent fibroids, your daily diet and lifestyle may play a role in reducing your risk. Diet can help balance hormones that may trigger these growths. Certain foods may also help ease fibroid symptoms.
Diet and lifestyle changes to lower risk. There are a number of changes you can make that might help reduce your risk for fibroids.
Follow a Mediterranean diet. Add plenty of fresh and cooked green vegetables, fresh fruit, legumes, and fish to your plate. A Mediterranean diet is one way to do this. Research shows that eating these foods regularly may help lower your risk for fibroids. On the other hand, eating beef, ham, lamb, and other red meat may raise your risk. Check out a beginner’s guide to the Mediterranean diet for tips and a meal plan.
Cut back on alcohol. Drinking any type of alcohol may increase your risk for fibroids. This can happen because alcohol raises the level of hormones needed for fibroids to grow. Alcohol may also trigger inflammation.
One study found that women who drank one or more beers a day increased their risk by more than 50 percent. Avoid or limit alcohol to help reduce your risk.
Balance estrogen. Estrogen is a hormone important for healthy fertility in both women and men. However, too much estrogen can increase your risk for fibroids Trusted Source or make them worse.
Many treatments for fibroids work by lowering estrogen levels. Other ways to balance estrogen levels include:
Losing weight. Obesity and excess weight increases the risk for fibroids. Fat cells make more estrogen, so losing weight may help prevent or slow the growth of fibroids.
Avoiding hormone-disrupting chemicals. Natural and synthetic chemicals can throw off your endocrine balance, raising estrogen levels. These chemicals can leach into your body through skin and food.
Avoid or limit coming into contact with chemicals found in:
Fertilizers
Pesticides
Plastics such as BPA
Nonstick coatings on cookware
Fire retardants
Dyes
Paints
Some personal care products
Lower blood pressure
Research shows that a high number of women with severe fibroids also have high blood pressure. More research is needed to find out if there’s a link.
Balancing blood pressure is vital for your overall health. Try these tips:
Avoid added salt. Flavor food with herbs and other spices instead. Limit high-sodium processed and packaged foods. Check your blood pressure daily with a home monitor. Exercise regularly. Lose weight, especially around the waist. Avoid or limit alcohol. Increase potassium by eating a majority of plants at each meal. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. If you have high blood pressure, take medication as prescribed. See your doctor for regular checkups. Get enough vitamin D Vitamin D may help reduce your risk of fibroids by almost 32 percent Trusted Source. Your body makes this “sunshine vitamin” naturally when your skin’s exposed to sunlight. If you have darker skin or live in cooler climates, you’re more likely to be deficient.
Supplements can help raise your levels, along with foods such as: Egg yolks Fortified milk, cheese, and dairy products Fortified cereals Fortified orange juice Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel Cod liver oil
A note about smoking and diet. Eating brightly colored fruits and vegetables is good for your general health. Consuming a variety of red, yellow, and orange foods will provide rich antioxidants. Dark greens are also nutrient-dense and will provide healthful benefits. These nutrients may help protect you from diseases, including some cancers.
However, a study found that beta carotene found in red, yellow, and orange foods didn’t lower the risk for fibroids. In smokers, beta carotene may even increase risk. Further research is needed on why this might happen. In any case, smoking is harmful to your health and may increase your risk of fibroids.
FOODS TO EAT IF YOU HAVE FIBROIDS. Diet alone can’t treat fibroids. However, a balanced diet may also help ease some fibroid symptoms and complications. Certain foods may help slow fibroid growth in some cases.
Fiber. Fiber-rich foods aid weight loss and balance hormones. They also help to keep blood sugar levels steady. For these reasons, fiber may help prevent and slow the growth of fibroids. Add these whole foods to your diet:
Cooked and raw vegetables
Cooked, raw, and dried fruit
Whole grain bread and pasta
Cruciferous vegetables
Oats
Lentils
Barley
Beans
Potassium Potassium helps to counter the effects of salt to balance blood pressure Trusted Source. Add these potassium-rich foods to your daily diet: Avocado Bananas Citrus Cantaloupe Collard greens Dates Lentils Oat bran Potatoes Tomatoes
Dairy Add dairy products such as yogurt and full-fat cheese to your diet. Dairy is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. These minerals may help prevent fibroids and slow their growth. Fortified milk also contains vitamin D.
Green tea Green tea contains several antioxidants. A study Trusted Source found that one of these, epigallocatechin gallate, may help slow the growth of fibroids by bringing down inflammation and high estrogen levels. Green tea may also improve symptoms of heavy bleeding due to fibroids, such as low iron.
FOODS TO AVOID IF YOU HAVE FIBROIDS. Sugar Sugary foods and simple carbohydrates may trigger or worsen fibroids Trusted Source. These foods spike blood sugar levels. This causes your body to make too much insulin. Excess insulin can cause weight gain and affect fibroid growth.
Avoid refined carbs and added sugars such as:
Table sugar Glucose Dextrose Maltose Corn syrup High fructose corn syrup White bread, rice, pasta, and flour Soda and sugary drinks Fruit juice Potato chips Crackers Packaged energy bars
Estrogen-increasing foods Some foods contain natural ingredients that mimic the estrogen in the body, called phytoestrogens. Other foods have added hormones or trigger your body to make more estrogen.
Some of these foods may have protective effects when consumed in small to moderate amounts but have negative effects when consumed in high amounts Trusted Source.
You may need to limit or avoid foods such as:
Red meat from sources that include added hormones Soybeans Soy milk Tofu Flaxseed
The government of Ghana is committed to assist the development of the women and youth in agriculture to ensure that they are able to sustain their business as farmers. The agricultural sector seeks to be the most viable sector of employability in the country but the youth finds it unattractive to venture into it.
Steps have been taken by the government to make the sector lucrative for the youth and women with the introduction of government flagship programs like Planting for Food and Jobs, Rearing for Food and Jobs, etc. which seeks to disburse farm inputs on credit to the farmers.
Speaking to Agric Today, the National Programme Coordinator for Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme, Mr. Klutse Kudomor said to ascertain such support from the government, the individuals have to come together to form a nucleus and this nucleus also has to form a cluster. According to him, these clusters are selected through validation workshops after which seeds and fertilizer together with pesticides and weedicide are giving to them on credit. He said the inputs are paid back through the nucleus farmer and the cluster driver after production.
To qualify a cluster to gain access to these inputs, Mr. Kudomor said the most critical thing is the land. Clusters should have their lands, have farmers who understand agribusiness and are able to produce to recover the money that is invested.
“There is no specific number of persons, but what we try to analyze is, whether the number of nucleus farmers under the cluster driver is enough for him to break even and that varies depending on the number of acres each farmer in the cluster has”, he added.
He concluded that any cluster that meets these requirements should report to the Youth in Agriculture or better still to the office of the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme for assistance.
Papaya leaves are known for their medicinal uses and hold special significance in Ayurveda. Ayurveda and yoga rely heavily on these plant leaves to treat major conditions from malaria to cancer and everything in between. Keep growing papaya trees and keep nurturing them so that you can utilise them and treat your condition naturally.
Papaya is considered one of the healthiest fruits, it helps in curing many diseases. Not only the pulp but its leaves contain many healing properties against various diseases. These include:
Diabetes: Papaya leaf juice regulates the production of insulin which in turn checks blood sugar levels. Its strong antioxidants help to bring down the consequent complications of diabetes like kidney damage and fatty liver. This juice can work wonders for diabetics.
Cancer: Papaya leaves contain phenolic compounds, papain, and alkaloids and these nutrients act as strong antioxidants which in turn, enhance the body’s immunity. The immune-modulating properties of the papaya leaves may help prevent cancer.
Menstrual cramps: Papaya leaf juice helps reduce menstrual cramps and regulates the menstrual cycle by balancing hormonal changes.
Digestive disorder: The combination of papain and other compounds present in papaya leaves help in the effective digestion of essential proteins which cure digestive disorders. It also helps in treating gastric ulcers and oxidative stress on the stomach.
Heartburn: Papaya leaf juice helps get rid of heartburn discomfort and is a great appetite stimulant.
Skin problems: Papaya leaf juice obtained by crushing tender papaya leaves is topically applied to treat skin allergies. It helps cure skin aging and provides radiant skin.
Hair problem: Hair problems, such as dandruff, hair fall, and scalp allergies can be treated by applying concentrated papaya leaf extract topically. Premature greying and hair thinning can also be treated by applying papaya leaves juice on the scalp. This juice also gives a beautiful sheen to your hair and acts as a potent conditioner.
Liver and kidney inflammation: Papaya leaf juice is a great detox drink that has high levels of phytochemicals and flavonoids that work together to cleanse your blood, improve blood circulation and protect your liver and kidneys from inflammation.
Malaria: Papaya leaves have strong antimalarial properties, making them best to cure malaria.
Dengue: The extract from papaya leaves acts as an effective remedy to treat dengue fever. Papaya leaf juice reduces the symptoms of dengue including high fever and skin rash. It also helps increase the platelet count.
The taste of papaya leaves is bitter but its health benefits are magnificent. They are loaded with calcium and vitamin A, B, C, D, and E. The antioxidants present in the leaves fight free radicals that enter the body. So consider the health benefits over its taste.
Papaya leaf juice is made by grinding, thoroughly washed tender papaya leaves to a fine paste adding little water. Filter this juice with the help of a strainer. The juice is thick and bitter, so it is diluted with water to make it milder to drink.
Naturally available and full of health, beneficial components in papaya leaf juice are worth trying!
The Chiefs, Queen Mothers, and the farmers of Tongu in the Volta Region of Ghana have commended the substantive Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto for his reappointment for another four year term.
At a convocation at the Minister’s office, the Paramount Chief (Fiaga) of Tefle Traditional Area and the President of the Tongu Council of Chiefs, Togbe Nakakpo Dugbaza VIII with a distinct honour congratulated Hon. Minister for working assiduously during his first tenure of office.
Togbe Dugbaza VIII and his subjects praised the government for the introduction of “Planting for Food and Jobs” to transform the Agriculture sector. “The government brought in Planting for Food and Jobs, and agenda which is in the right direction and adored by us and our subjects. We have always been happy with the way you and your government have used Planting for Food and Jobs to transform the agriculture in Ghana”, Togbe said.
To that effect, Tobge mentioned that Volta Region has a vast arable land for the production of food crops like rice, maize, cassava, and vegetables, therefore, there is a lot more to be done in the region.
“We are aware of the agencies like GASSIP, OVCF and GECAP have resources that can support the effort of the government to develop the Rice Valleys and make rice production a lucrative business for the country”, he added.
He used the opportunity and made a request for the revamp of the Aveyime project and also the expansion of the Fiave Rice project to provide enough food and jobs for the people of Tongu area.
Togbe has good faith that with the ability of the Minister and the sector management, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will see a further huge development of the agricultural sector.
In response, Hon. Owusu Afriyie Akoto congratulated the Chiefs, Queen mothers, and the farmers for their visit to commend him on his reappointment and such an astonishing visit from the Chiefs and Queen mothers for the first time in service.
The Hon. Minister assured the Chiefs, Queen mothers, and their subjects of his assistance to make Volta Region one of the notable food baskets among the sixteen regions to solve food security in the country. He noted that the farmers at the Volta Region in terms of participation in the Planting for Food and Jobs are one of the highest amongst all the sixteen regions in the country.
On an address to some of the pertinent issues at the region, Hon. Minister said a district like Keta is the only district in Ghana which predominantly produces vegetables, and the main challenge farmers face is affordable electricity to irrigate the farms, therefore, the government has to provide the farmers with solar energy to ease the high cost of electricity for their operation.
“The valleys of Volta Region can supply the whole of Ghana with our rice yet they don’t have the implements to take out the stumps so they can mechanize the activities including the planting, sowing of the rice seeds, the harvesting, and the milling of the rice, we are very much aware of these difficulties and the government is determined that in coming 4 years we will assist you any way possible to make sure that we remove these constraints so that farming can prosper in the Volta Region”, Hon. Minister added.
He pledged his support to make sure that they get their fair share of the national cake sooner than later.
Kidney stones in the urinary tract are formed in several ways. Calcium can combine with chemicals, such as oxalate or phosphorous, in the urine. This can happen if these substances become so concentrated that they solidify. Kidney stones can also be caused by a buildup of uric acid. Uric acid buildup is caused by the metabolism of protein. Your urinary tract wasn’t designed to expel solid matter, so it’s no surprise that kidney stones are very painful to pass. Luckily, they can usually be avoided through diet.
What to eat and drink. If you’re trying to avoid kidney stones, what you eat and drink is as important as what you shouldn’t eat and drink. Here are some important rules of thumb to keep in mind.
Stay hydrated Fluids, especially water, help to dilute the chemicals that form stones. Try to drink at least 12 glasses of water a day.
Up your citrus intake Citrus fruit, and their juice, can help reduce or block the formation of stones due to naturally occurring citrate. Good sources of citrus include lemons, oranges, and grapefruit.
Eat lots of calcium (and vitamin D) If your calcium intake is low, oxalate levels may rise. It’s preferable to get your calcium from food, rather than from supplements, as these have been linked to kidney stone formation. Good sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, and other types of cheeses. Vegetarian sources of calcium include legumes, calcium-set tofu, dark green vegetables, nuts, seeds, and blackstrap molasses. If you don’t like the taste of cow’s milk, or, if it doesn’t agree with you, try lactose-free milk, fortified soy milk, or goat’s milk. Also make sure to include foods high in vitamin D each day. Vitamin D helps the body absorb more calcium. Many foods are fortified with this vitamin. It’s also found in fatty fishes, such as salmon, egg yolks, and cheese.
FOODS AND DRINKS TO AVOID KIDNEY STONE DIET Limit salt High sodium levels in the body, can promote calcium buildup in urine. Avoid adding salt to food, and check the labels on processed foods to see how much sodium they contain. Fast food can be high in sodium, but so can regular restaurant food. When you’re able, ask that no salt be added to whatever you order on a menu. Also, take note of what you drink. Some vegetable juices are high in sodium.
Lower your animal protein intake Many sources of protein, such as red meat, pork, chicken, poultry, fish, and eggs, increase the amount of uric acid you produce. Eating large amounts of protein also reduces a chemical in urine called citrate. Citrate’s job is to prevent the formation of kidney stones. Alternatives to animal protein include quinoa, tofu (bean curd), hummus, chia seeds, and Greek yogurt. Since protein is important for overall health, discuss how much you should eat daily with your doctor.
A plant-based diet may be ideal Eat oxalates wisely. Foods high in this chemical may increase formation of kidney stones. If you’ve already had kidney stones, you may wish to reduce or eliminate oxalates from your diet completely. If you’re trying to avoid kidney stones, check with your doctor to determine if limiting these foods is enough. If you do eat foods containing oxalates, always make sure to eat or drink a calcium source with them. This will help the oxalate bind to the calcium during digestion, before it can reach your kidneys. Foods high in oxalate include: • chocolate • beets • nuts • tea • rhubarb • spinach • swiss chard • sweet potatoes Don’t drink colas Avoid cola drinks. Cola is high in phosphate, another chemical which can promote the formation of kidney stones.
Reduce or eliminate added sugar intake. Added sugars are sugars and syrups that are added to processed foods and drinks. Added sucrose and added fructose may increase your risk of kidney stones. Keep an eye on the amount of sugar you eat, in processed foods, such as cake, in fruit, in soft drinks, and in juices. Other common added sugar names include corn syrup, crystallized fructose, honey, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, and cane sugar.
Tips for a kidney stone diet. Having kidney stones increases your risk of getting them again unless you actively work to prevent them. This means taking medications prescribed to you for this purpose, and watching what you eat and drink.
If you currently have stones, your doctor will run diagnostic tests, to determine what type you have. They will then prescribe a specific diet plan for you, such as the DASH Diet. Tips that will help include:
• drink at least twelve glasses of water daily
• drink citrus juices, such as orange juice
• eat a calcium-rich food at each meal, at least three times a day
• limit your intake of animal protein
• eat less salt, added sugar, and products containing high fructose corn syrup
• avoid foods and drinks high in oxalates and phosphates
• avoid eating or drinking anything which dehydrates you, such as alcohol.
Takeaway Kidney stones are typically a painful condition. Fortunately, diet can be an effective tool in managing and preventing kidney stones. Staying hydrated and avoiding certain foods that are high in salt and sugar, and pairing calcium with oxalate rich foods are important elements of a kidney stone diet.
The president of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo-Addo has said that cocoa farmers are to be paid 400 dollars per metric ton at the 2020/2021 season at the State of the Nations Address (SONA 2021) at the Parliament House, Accra.
According to His Excellency, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire have succeeded in aligning the cocoa production and marketing policies of the two countries and ensured that the two countries do not continue to be victims or pawns of a global cocoa industry that is dependent on the toil and effort of the farmers.
“A new trading mechanism has been implemented, and has ensured that a new cost item of four hundred United States dollars (US$400.00) per ton, for every cocoa sold by the two nations, effective from the 2020/2021 season, is paid to our farmers”, Mr. President iterated.
Despite the countries contributing to the global market, cocoa farmers still live under the poverty line. This new price tag would assist in alleviating the fractional burden of the cocoa farmers.
