President John Dramani Mahama on Friday pledged that his
Government would transform Ghana’s economy using agricultural
modernisation as a tool, when re-elected for another four-year
term.
He added that Government would implement the Food and Agricultural
Development Policy and the Medium Term Agriculture Sector
Investment Plan as the two main strategies to achieve agricultural
modernisation.
Speaking at the 28th National Farmers’ Day Celebration organised at
Abokobi in the Ga East District of Accra, President Mahama said the
strategy would include transformation of the agricultural sector
from a resource-based to a technology-based industry and would lay
emphasis on irrigation agriculture.
He added that the Government would provide subsidies for improved
seeds, grade breeder and stocks, pesticides, fertilisers, machinery
and other inputs.
President Mahama said promotion of selected crops for food security
and exports, establishments of industries with backwards linkages
to agricultural resource base, construction of storage facilities,
silos, cold storage units and modern markets in strategic locations
to minimise post-harvest losses, would be other strategies his
Government would adopt.
“Implementation of the Ghana Commercial Agricultural Programme,
particularly as it relates to strengthening investment promotion
infrastructure, facilitating secure access to land, and securing
public private partnerships and smallholder linkages in the Accra
plains, the Savannah Accelerated Development Project Zone, Afram
Plains and other deprived areas,” he added.
President Mahama noted that his Government had achieved a lot in
the agricultural sector adding that “productivity enhancing
strategies including timely availability of needed farm inputs,
opening up of marketing opportunities and scaling up credit support
for agricultural purposes,” were responsible for the
achievements.
He said rice production had increased from 181,000 metric tonnes of
milled rice in 2008 to 295,000 metric tonnes in 2010, stressing
that it was a 63 per cent increase over the 2008 figure.
President Mahama said: “Ghana now produces 53 per cent of her rice
requirement locally up from 30 per cent in 2009 and has reduced
rice imports by 30 per cent.
“Maize production has increased from 1.5 million metric tonnes in
2008 to 1.9 metric tonnes in 2010 and 1.7 million metric tonnes in
2011; cassava rose from 11.4 million tonnes in 2008 to 14.2 million
metric tonnes in 2011,” he added.
President Mahama said the cotton industry which had collapsed had
been revived adding that in 2010 and 2011 season, 200,000 hectares
of land was cropped by 23000 farmers to produce 17000 metric tonnes
of seed cotton with an estimated lint production of 6655 metric
tonnes.
He said that fish production increased by 17 per cent from 100,935
metric tonnes to 118,504 metric tonnes.
“Of the meat production poultry increased by 32 per cent from
31,056 metric tonnes in 2008 to 41,008 metric tonnes in
2011.”
President Mahama said: “Fish production increased by 1.3 per cent
from 416,552 metric tonnes in 2008 to 421,898 metric tonnes in 2011
of which aquaculture production increased from 7,200 metric tonnes
in 2009 to 19,091 metric tonnes in 2011.”
He added that export earnings from fish and fishery products
increased from $158 million to $256 million for the same
period.
President Mahama commended farmers and fishers for their hard work,
which contributed towards the achievements.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture said government
had resourced the Ministry to undertake critical interventions
including land administration and management, agricultural
mechanisation, fertiliser subsidy programme, national buffer stock
company, youth in agriculture block.
He said the interventions would open up the sector to modern
business culture and technology adoption and to make Ghana’s
agriculture and farmers competitive in the global market.
Mr Ahwoi commended the 80 sponsors for their contribution and
support towards the celebration.
Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister called for
capacity building programmes for farmers and fishers to enable them
compete globally.
Meanwhile an Accra-based farmer Lemuel K. Martey of Mannah Farms
Limited was adjudged the National Best Farmer for 2012.
He is expected to receive a three-bedroom house and a pick-up
vehicle.
The First Runner up went to 51-year-old Enoch Elder Tei from the
Greater Accra Region, while Ellen Tia, a 28 year-old from the Upper
East Region was adjudged the Second Runner up.
Kwamina Oboh from the Central Region was the National Best
Fisherman.
In all, 74 farmers and fishers were honoured for their outstanding
contribution to the economy.
The theme for the 28th Edition of the Farmer’s Day Farmer’s Day
celebration was: “Grow more food: strengthening farmer based
organisations for market place bargaining power”.
