Asunafo South Member of Parliament Eric Opoku has stated that the agricultural sector is confronted with low production, low productivity, food losses, limited markets, and poor access to credit.
These challenges, Mr. Opoku posited, are largely occasioned by low investments in the agricultural sector, which is leading to food insecurity and the high food inflation the nation is grappling with.
Also confronting the sector is the problem of climate change and environmental degradation aggravated by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, he said.
He said Ghana is estimated to spend $2 billion, with the Cedi equivalent of almost Ghc 32 billion, to import food annually to supplement local production.
This places undue pressure on the cedi; hence, the exchange rate, which was one dollar to four cedis in 2016, is now one dollar to almost 16 Ghana cedis in Ghana.
The MP expressed worry over our importation of tomatoes, onions, and other commodities.
He said Ghana recorded its lowest food inflation of 5% in July 2014 under John Dramani and recorded its highest food inflation of 61% in January 2023 under President Akufo-Addo and Bawumia government.
He lamented that available data from the World Bank has revealed that the rising food inflation has pushed 850,000 into poverty, joining the already 6 million in that category.
He said Ghana has paid $12 million for the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, of which no work has been done, while highlighting the increase in the rate of unemployment, which has shot to 14.7% in 2023.
Mr. Eric Opoku indicated that Ghana has expended almost $3 billion on the planting for food and jobs programme intended to ensure food availability and affordability, yet food inflation is ballooning.
To this end, he has announced that the next NDC government is committed to these challenges through an Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (IATA), which will focus on modernising agriculture and promoting agribusiness to reduce food inflation, ensure food security, increase food exports, and create sustainable jobs.
He went on to state that one of the strategies crafted for realisation of the IATA is the ‘Feed Ghana Programme’ which will drive our nation towards food security and sufficiency.
‘’The programme he said is imperative considering the imbalances between food production and consumption in Ghana. Under this programme, the NDC government will feed the Ghanaian people as well as Ghanaian industry. We will foster a symbiotic relationship between agriculture and industry to unlock the full potential of our state and liberate the entire citizenry from abject poverty. Interventions for the realisation of the objectives include, under food crops, the implementation of a transformational grain development project to increase the local production of maize, rice, soya beans, and sorghum. Production of roots and tubers through investment in research and adoption of locally manufactured and approved technology, restructure and strengthen the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), implementing a vegetable development project called ‘YERIDUA’ to enhance the production of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other vegetables.’’
Under poultry, Mr. Eric Opoku announced plans by the NDC to revamp the collapsing poultry industry by providing incentives for farmers and promoting local consumption under the Made in Ghana agenda. Rolling out poultry farm development projects in collaboration with the poultry farmers association to boost poultry production.
Aside from these initiatives, he said the NDC will roll out a livestock development project to boost meat and dairy production, especially of cattle, piggery, and small ruminants.
The NDC will increase productivity and development of fisheries aquaculture and the blue economy as follows:
- Establish a Blue Economy Commission that will conserve marine and freshwater resources of the country and use sustainable ways to enhance economic development
- Enhance aquaculture through improved fish genetics and commercial fingerling production, strengthen quality assurance and disease control, and support research and development in fisheries and aquaculture through institutional resources
- Restore efficient premix fuel distribution through landing beach committees, provide technology to fishers, and enhance sea security to optimise fishing operations.
Source: rainbowradioonline.com
