Mr Bryan Acheampong, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has disclosed that the government of Ghana will sponsor farmers with credit and farm implements to help in their farming ventures.
Bryan Acheampong, who was appointed few months ago, said he is determined to ensure that the country attains food sufficiency. He indicated that the assistance will be given to the private sector to lower their cost of venturing into agriculture and also allow the 2.5 million people reported to be unemployed to go into farming.
“It is our hope that we move away from direct subsidy which also burdens farmers with access to capital,” Mr Acheampong said, while highlighting the impact of the expected government intervention.
Mr Acheampong noted that 85 per cent of the cost of farming is in machinery, fertilizer and seeds. As such, he disclosed that the ministry intended to take the burden from the farmer.
“We are coming up with an aggressive plan, a four-year step-by-step roadmap that will be followed by Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and the government to ensure that within the four or maximum five years, we will be able to match our production to consumption, export requirements and match production to industry requirements.”
Bryan Acheampong
The Agric Minister averred that the importation of tomatoes and onions from Burkina Faso would no longer exist and that Ghana would be able to produce enough all year round to seed the citizenry as well as meet both export and industry target.
Mr Acheampong made this known in Accra when the new President and Chief Executive Officer of International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC), Mr Hank van Duijn, paid a courtesy call on him.
The call is aimed at deepening the collaboration between IFDC and the government of Ghana, through MoFA to promote agriculture in Ghana.
IFDC Supports Innovative Research
Mr Duijn, on his part, stated that his outfit supports innovative research, market systems development and strategic partnerships to disseminate sustainable agricultural solutions to improve soil health, food security and the livelihoods of agricultural producers.
Mr Duijn noted that the vision of the centre is to strengthen existing profitable partnerships with strategic stakeholders including the government of Ghana and especially, MoFA.
Mr Duijn noted that the IFDC have been working in Ghana since 2002 and has contributed directly and indirectly to the development of agriculture across the country.
Mr Dujin noted that the centre has implemented several projects and is currently executing the sustainable clusters in agribusiness through learning in entrepreneurship programme which incubates and accelerates inclusive business through partnerships with companies.
Mr Dujin opined that strengthening food security in Ghana is the only way forward via private sector and farm research.
Meanwhile, the IFDC believes the key to global food security starts with the soil and ends at the supermarket, as it strives to develop better fertilizer and production technologies, transfer these improved technologies to smallholder farmers, and connect these farmers to efficient and profitable markets.
By working with strategic partners, the IFDC built local capacity and ensure sustainable impact.
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