Expert says Ghana’s economic growth could be negatively affected by agriculture
Mr Sylvester Adongo, an agricultural expert, had cautioned the government to pay attention to the agricultural sector, since it is a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
He said the agricultural sector was a major player that contributed largely to the country’s achievement of a single digit inflation, and that, it could be eroded, if drastic measures were not taken by the government to implement positive policies in the agricultural sector.
Mr Adongo was speaking at Dunyin, a suburb of the Tamale Metropolises, to mark the celebration of this year’s Farmer’s Day at the Metropolitan level, which was under the theme; “Grow more food”.
Mr Adongo, who was the former Northern Regional Director of Agriculture, said the lower food prices currently prevailing in the country is as a result of increased food production last year, making it possible for people to afford food at lower prices.
He observed that, despite the programmes and policies put in place by the government to improve production, there was the need to further reduce inflation or sustain it.
Alhaji Abudulai Harruna Friday, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (DCE), said the government’s mechanization process in the agricultural sector was on course, and that, it would help raise food production for local consumption and export.
He was of the hope that farmers would increase food production to enable the country to become self sufficient, adding that, 227,634 farmers benefited from the subsidized fertilizer programme of the government.
He said the Metropolitan Agricultural Development Unit had been able to support over 1,976 farmers, particularly the youth, to cultivate 3,401 acres of block rice, maize and soyabeans farms in the various communities of the metropolis.
Alhaji Friday said under the Livestock Development Project of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), 120 farmers had been assisted, under the credit-in-kind policy and would help improve the livestock requirement of the country.
Chief Von Salifu, Dunyini Naa, was adjudged the best farmer for the Tamale Metropolis and received a certificate, two packets of roofing sheets, a bicycle, Wellington boots and other valuables, while 13 other deserving farmers received various awards.
Source: GNA