MOFA to promote cultivation of cereals & vegetables

Government plans to promote the cultivation of maize, rice, soybean, sorghum and vegetables to help generate more wealth in the agriculture sector to be able to improve the livelihoods of farmers to grow the national economy.

The cultivation of these crops is expected to create some 750,000 jobs in the coming 2017 farming season, a figure expected to double in the next farming season in 2018. When fully implemented, it will generate an additional farm income worth over GH¢ 1.3 billion and will require the use of ICT in the identification and registration of farmers, supply of farm inputs and the transportation and marketing of farm produce.

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister Designate for Food and Agriculture speaking at a forum in Accra explained: “In the urban areas, the production of vegetables will be promoted in backyard gardens and open spaces.

The initiative will task districts assemblies to identify and register progressive farmers in each of the 216 districts and the selected farmers will be supported with subsidized improved seeds, fertilizers and extension services. 

“As part of the strategy district assemblies will be assigned specific roles in agricultural development and will adopt policies specifically to support women in agriculture.”

The cultivation of these commodities will be anchored on the provision of improved seeds, supply of fertilizers, provision of dedicated extension services, marketing and e-Agriculture.

“To ensure that adequate quantities of improved seeds are made available in the coming 2017 planting season, the Grains and Legumes Development Board and Certified seed growers will be assisted to deliver supplies. 

He assured a ready market for the farm produce, adding that the marketing functions of the Grains and Legumes Development Board will be revived as specified in the Act of its establishment (Act 324),1970. This arrangement is to forestall the situation where farmers are saddled with produce after harvest, suffering large post-harvest losses.

He said: “All citizens will be persuaded to see it as a national duty to cultivate a crop or two to support the change the government aspires.

“I would like to appeal to all Ghanaians to roll up their sleeves and put their shoulders to the wheel for rapid agricultural growth, with the coming farming season beginning March-April 2017.

Dr. Akoto explained that government institutions and private companies like breweries and food processors will be encouraged to invest in plantations for food and raw material production. 

Prisons, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities will be given incentives to establish their farms.

“These officers are to ensure that farmers adopt best technological practices for increased productivity. They will be supported by staff of the Departments of Agriculture in the Districts Assemblies.”

 “It is only through agriculture that we can generate jobs in large numbers to put a dent in the youth unemployment and also produce the needed raw materials to support our promise of ‘One District One Factor”.

The country’s agricultural sector, which continues to be the anchor of the economy, has not performed well in recent years. In the past eight years, the annual rate of growth of the sector has declined from 7.4 percent in 2008 to 2.4 percent in 2015. This is below the six percent annual growth target set out in the Maputo Deceleration of 2003.

Again, the country’s population has quadrupled to 28.4 by the beginning of 2017, from 6.7million in 1957.