Ghana government makes food security a priority

Mr William Boakye-Acheampong, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has said the Ministry was working to promote sustainable agriculture and enhanced agribusiness through research and technology.

This is expected to increase production and yield of major staple crops for food security.

He said through improved agricultural practices such as the block farm concept, tractor services for ploughing and research and technology transfer to farmers and processors concept, staple crops such as rice and maize were expected to appreciate substantially in yield.

Mr Boakye-Acheampong was speaking at a forum on the nutritional values of local food items in Kumasi on Tuesday.

The Resource Link Foundation organized the programme which was sponsored by the Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition and other foreign development agencies.

He said the government was expected to provide incentives such as machines and equipment as well as short term credit facilities to farmers and processors to boost production.

This is also designed to make agriculture and agribusiness attractive to the youth.

Mr Christopher Dapaah, Regional Focal Person of Ghana Trade and Livelihoods Coalition, called for investment in the local rice industry through research and training of producers to help meet quality standards of the market internationally.

He proposed that more mechanization centres should also be set up while tractors are provided to farmers devoid of bureaucracies in the distribution process.

Mr Dapaah noted that it was high time comprehensive measures were put in place to promote local food materials to promote the health of the people and also sustain the income of the local farmer.

Source: GNA