18^th Farmers Day launched

Accra (Greater Accra) 22 October 2002- Ghana's food situation could be in jeopardy within a short time if government together with strategic stakeholders do not develop the agricultural sector.

The nation must work to ensure that food and cash crop production are fully optimized in order to stabilize food prices throughout the year and improve the revenue base from export of cocoa.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance, said at the launching the 18^th National Farmers' Day in Accra. He noted that the continued over-reliance on rain-fed agriculture is doing a lot of harm to the economy, saying "this must change and give way to improved modern systems of farming".

This would ensure that "hardworking farmers are adequately rewarded, the economy then improves and the standard of living of the average Ghanaian becomes more comfortable".

A recent research report by Price Waterhouse Coopers named agricultural and industrial sectors as areas that are seriously lagging behind in the country. Agriculture is projected to grow by 4.1 percent, up only 0.1 per cent from last year.

Mr Osafo-Maafo urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), its affiliates and other stakeholders to explore means to ensure that food production increases and is made rewarding as well.

He said a special vote would be made available to the MOFA in the next budget to buy excess food to store against the lean season. Mr Osafo-Maafo said he was unhappy with the huge difference in food production between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, and Ghana was doing very little to change this situation.

According to him, total agricultural exports from Ghana total 1.6 billion dollars a year while Cote d'Ivoire earns 3.8 billion dollars.

"Yet Ivorian imports - 2.3 billion dollars - do not outstrip their exports compared to Ghana's 2.2 billion dollars which is more than twice her exports.

"Ghana has a long way to go and need to take bold measures to make this happen. We must change the land tenure system. A lot of talk has gone on in this area with little action or change. The time is now to change."

He announced that government would soon come out with incentives for the development of sorghum by Ghanaian farmers for use by the breweries, which currently use imported malt.

The Finance Minister said banks are being encouraged to embrace this idea in order to make financing accessible for the take-off of the project.

He said a programme to increase production of cocoa and major food and cash crops per acre are underway. Major Courage Quarshigah, Minister of MOFA, said even though the event has been scaled down, government is ensuring winners of awards would get valuable prizes.

This year's top winner, like last year's winner, would takes home a three-bedroom house valued at 400 million cedis in an area of his choice.

The Agricultural Development Bank donated a three-bedroom house for this year's winner. The National Investment Bank and Ghana Commercial Bank donated two-double cabin pick-ups valued at 20,000 dollars each and Auto Parts donated a single cabin pick up.

Japan Motors Company donated three motorcycles and a water pump valued at 40 million cedis, and Continental Goldfields Company donated 50 million cedis.

GRi…/

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