Farmers working on the field
Agriculture, the mainstay of the country?s economy, continues to provide an answer to the unemployment situation in Ghana. It is a source of livelihood for rural folks in the country.
About 75 per cent of farmers rely on traditional methods such as ?slash and burn? method, and use simple tools such as cutlass and hoe to produce crops.
About 25 per cent of the farmers also depend on intermediate technology such tractors, animal-drawn implements and irrigation. Tackling the production and marketing constraints of small-scale farmers in Ghana has always been a topical issue among stakeholders.
The contribution of farmers cannot be over-emphasized as approximately three million small-holder farmers with average farm sizes of between 0.5-2 hectares currently produce 95 per cent of the country?s food crops.
Statistics from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and AGRA, a public-private partnership aimed at improving smallholder farming, indicate that agriculture is considered to be an anchor of Ghana?s economy and is estimated to create value of approximately 14.2 billion dollars and employs approximately 4.6 million, representing 56 percent of the workforce.
It is obvious politicians have been paying lip-service to the improvement and development of agriculture.
Celebration of Farmers Day
Ghana has proclaimed to the world that it recognizes and appreciates the role and contribution of farmers and fishermen in national development through the institution and celebration of the National Farmers Day. Even though this is a step in the right direction, there is the need to review the scheme to ensure that it benefits and gives due recognition to the poor rural farmers and fishermen, who dominate the sector and produce the bulk of the nation?s food requirements.
Unfortunately, the current programme makes it easy for only the rich to continue to receive the awards.
In his address at the National Farmers Day celebration at Abokobi in the Greater Accra region on November 2, 2012, President John Dramani Mahama commended Ghanaian farmers and fishermen, whose tremendous efforts and sacrifices had helped to achieve the ?Better Ghana? agenda.
The President stressed the need for Ghanaians to be concerned about food security, explaining that agriculture holds the key to reducing rural poverty and gingering development in Ghana.
He emphasized that increasing agricultural productivity by one percent would result in 0.72 per cent reduction in rural poverty and 0.48 per cent reduction in socio-economic indicators in Ghana.
NPP, NDC Pledge to Support Agric
Both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have pledged to enhance agriculture activities in the country in their manifestoes.
The NPP, in its manifesto for 2004 elections, indicated its preparedness to support and promote agricultural activities in the country.
In its 2004 manifesto, it said the sector?s growth rate according to the increased from 2.1% in the year 2000 to 4.4% in the year 2002 and to 6.5% by 2006.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) promised, among others, to improve agricultural research and technology.
It also promised to create a District Agricultural Advisory Service to offer advice on technology and marketing, among others.
Little has been derived from the pledges of politicians on agricultural issues.
Benefits Derive from livestock, Cash and Other Crops
However, Ghana derives a lot from farmers. Cocoa farmers according to President Mahama provided an estimated foreign exchange of about $2.03 billion through bean export earnings in 2011.
Government, he said, increased cocoa output to 1 million metric tonnes.
On livestock, he indicated that Ghana generates $32.34 million foreign exchange from fish and seafood exports as one of the leading categories of non-traditional agricultural exports.
President Mahama noted that the production of rice in Ghana increased from 181,000 metric tons in 2008 to 295,000 metric tons in 2010 which represents 63 percent increase.
?Ghana now produces 53 per cent of her rice requirement locally up from 30 percent in 2009 reducing rice imports by 30 percent.?
He indicated that maize production had increased from 1.5 million metric tonnes in 2008 to 1.9 million metric tons in 2010, representing 27 percent rise.
Yams increased from 4.9 million mt. in 2008 to 5.9 million mt in 2011 (20% increase) and plantain from 3.3 million mt. tons in 2008 to 3.6 million mt. tons in 2011 (9% increase)
The President said, ?Meat production increased by 17 percent from 100,935 metric tons to 118,504 metric tons while poultry production went up by 32 percent from 31,056 metric tons in 2008 to 41,008 metric tons in 2011.?
According to him, fish production increased by 1.3 percent from 416,552 metric tons in 2008 to 421,898 metric tons in 2011 of which aquaculture production recorded 165 percent increment with export earnings from fish and fishery products increasing from US$158 million to US$256 million in the same year.
Seeking Another Mandate
President Mahama indicated that economic transformation will hinge on agricultural modernization in the second term of NDC administration for which they are seeking the mandate of the people in the upcoming December 7, 2012 general election.
Explaining further, he said it would be propelled by two main strategies. The first would involve the implementation of the Food and Agricultural Development Policy and the corresponding investment plan as detailed in the five-year Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP 2011-2015).
Nevertheless many have wondered if these strategies and policies outlined by government are going to significantly transform agriculture in the country.
President Mahama also stated that rising food prices also pose significant threats to Ghana?s macroeconomic stability and overall development achievements.
The Way Forward
Are Ghanaians really concerned about the enhancement of agriculture as stated by the President at the National Farmer?s day celebration.
The time has come for Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliation, to open discussions on the future of Ghana?s agricultural sector and work together to develop comprehensive strategies using an integrated approach to revolutionalise agriculture in the country
Ghana should begin to emulate various approaches that developed countries like U.S, Britain, Canada, and Japan by investing massively in agriculture and fishing.
Government would have to stop paying lip service to resolving challenges in agriculture.
Farmers and producers are interested in a comprehensive approach to the issue of agriculture in Ghana.
They are interested in irrigation dams, farm inputs and factories to avoid post-harvest losses.
By Stella Danso Addai
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Source: http://www.businessguideghana.com/?p=6956
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