Government asked to support organic farming

Coalition for the Advancement of Organic Farming (CAOF), has called on Government to establish a National Organic Standards and Certification Authority, to encourage farmers to go into organic farming.

Mr Philip Ayamba, the Secretary of CAOF, made the call at workshop organized by the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund Service Provider, to disseminate findings of research that it funded, at Bolgatanga.

He said organic farming was less expensive unlike conventional farming, which involves the application of fertilizers with negative effects on the environment and health.

Mr Ayamba called for the implementation of the Food and Agriculture Policy II that supports organic farming, initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

He expressed the hope that if organic farming was to be seriously practiced in Ghana, it would have been supported by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement.

Mr Ayamba said produce obtained from organic farming was cheaper, healthier and prevented various diseases.

He, however, said: ”The challenges of organic farming include lack of organic inputs, lack of extension services, no certification, no premium prices, lack of technical know-how and the aggressive marketing strategies for conventional input dealers”.

Mr Ayamba said, according to the research, 92 per cent of farmers in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Region were ready to go into organic farming.

He said: ”Data collected revealed that 95 per cent of the respondents had no knowledge of any form of regulatory measure put in place by Government for organic farming,  not even the government institutions”.

Source: GNA