The General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has said the Akufo-Addo led administration has no excuse to fail in the agricultural sector.
Edward Kareweh said given the experience of the minister designate appointed to head sector and the events of the past which he can learn from, the government must be able to galvanise support to boost the agricultural sector.
He was responding to the president’s new vision to transform the agriculture sector as outlined in his presentation at the 68th edition of the New Year school held at the University of Ghana.
“Agriculture continues to be the anchor of the country’s economy employing almost half of our workforce. However, in the last few years, growth in the sector has declined dramatically. Food is unnecessarily expensive in a country is blessed with fertile land.
“Our production methods are not modern and income levels of our farmers and fisher folks making the sector unattractive to the youth as a viable means of livelihood.
“Government will pursue a value addition strategy aimed at rapidly romping up agro-processing and developing new and stable markets for our products,” the president said.
Speaking to Joy News, Edward Kareweh said many of the issues raised by the president form the crux of the problems in the agricultural sector and there must be a concerted effort at addressing some of the concerns.
He would also want the government to concentrate on the provision of well-equipped extension officers to help in resuscitating the agricultural sector which has taken a nose dive.
According to him, the farmer, extension officer ratio is 1:1500, a ratio that does not bode well for the development of the sector.
He said given the shortage of extension officers, “the farmers do their own thing, apply their own methods and strategies which end up in low yields and eventually frustrate the farmers.”
Edward Kareweh said with commitment, an Akufo-Addo led administration can ensure food sufficiency for Ghana.
He said crops like maize sorghum and other crops have a gestation period of about three months which means within a few months the country should be able to feed itself.
Mr Kareweh said Akufo-Addo has no reason to fail farmers in the country.
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