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The application of smart solutions to agriculture is the Key to achieving Food Sufficiency – VP Bawumia

The targeted interventions and programmes initiated by the Government in the Agriculture sector since 2017 continue to yield significantly positive results and, with comprehensive reviews and upscaling, the objective of food security and resilience should be achieved shortly, Vice President Bawumia has stated.

The application of smart solutions to agriculture would, however, speed up this process, and Dr Bawumia has challenged all players in the agriculture value chain to embrace and speedily adopt smart technologies to boost food production.

Speaking at the 39th National Farmers’ Day held at Tarkwa in the Western Region on Friday, 1st December 2023, Vice President Bawumia said Ghana’s experience on the Agriculture front in the past six years demonstrates government’s unwavering commitment to transform the sector and place it on a sound footing for accelerated development, with demonstrable results.

“These efforts have yielded notable success through the flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), initiated in 2017. For example, from a baseline growth of 2.9% in 2016, the agricultural sector recorded an average growth rate of 6% from 2017 to 2022. This significant increase in growth rate enhanced food security, increased job opportunities across the agricultural value chain and supported emerging industries with raw materials among others.

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“The programme resulted in significant increases in productivity of some staples. Yields for maize production increased from 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare in 2016 to 3.3 metric tonnes per hectare in 2022. That for rice increased from 2.9 metric tonnes to 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare during the same period,” he underscored.

PFJ 2.0

To reinforce these gains and further expand the reach of these interventions, Government in August this year launched Planting for Food and Jobs 2.0, with clear objectives.

“The PFJ 2.0 programme holds a lot of promise for the food and agricultural sector given the valuable lessons learnt from the past. It is a five-year strategic intervention that marks a major shift from the input subsidy programme to a smart input credit system. The programme is designed to deliver smart solutions to catalyze growth and transform the food and agricultural sector.

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“We have set ourselves ambitious but achievable targets for every year of the five-year period of the programme. For example, we expect to increase our self-sufficiency of rice from the current level of 48% in 2022 to 72% by 2025 and 106% by 2028; and for poultry from 5% in 2022 to 22% by 2025 and 111% by 2028. We strongly believe that by design the PFJ 2.0 will create greater awareness about Ghana’s agriculture and attract the needed investment from both domestic and international investors.

Technology

Reiterating his call for the adoption of improved scientific methods, technology, digitalization, Big Data and the Internet of Things, Vice President Bawumia emphasized that farmers and fishers need to embrace and adopt new methods of food production.

“In the 21st century, technology abounds and can be accessed easily. There is therefore no excuse to continue with farm methods and practices that militate against the achievements of sustainable food security and resilient food systems. Some of these smart technologies adopted in our agricultural system include development and dissemination of improved climate smart crop varieties and animal breeds; design and application of efficient irrigation systems with solar systems; adoption of conservation agriculture; use of climate information services for improved weather forecasting; application of precision agriculture with use of drones; soil tests kits to inform appropriate use of soil nutrients; improved market information and use of digital platforms for trading; and improved storage systems and technologies to reduce postharvest losses and increase value addition. 

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“We will continue to scale up the adoption of these technologies and the introduction of new ones that become available,” he pledged.

Food Sufficiency

Giving an overview of the various interventions being implemented by his Ministry, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon Brian Acheampong, was confident that Ghana would be less reliant on the rest of the world for her food security in the very near future.

“Planting for Food and Jobs 2.0 is a five year integrated and comprehensive programme designed to meet our food needs as a nation, and I am confident that in five years, which is 2028, Ghana will be food sufficient and resilient. Government will continue to do its part and provide the necessary resources for this success. For instance in 2024, Government is seeking to provide Ghs10 billion for the Agric sector,” he revealed.

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Awards

15 farmers and fishers were honoured at the National Farmers Day Awards, with Madam Charity Akortia from the Agona West District of the Central Region walking away with the Ghs 1 million as her prize after being adjudged, after a rigorous national exercise, as National Best Farmer for 2023. She takes over from Nana Yaw Sarpong Siriboe I, Akyempimhene of the Juaben Traditional Area, who was the 3rd youngest winner of the Award since its inception.

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 Youth urged to take proactive stance on ozone depletion

•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student

•Mr Joseph Amankwah, first counting from, some officials from EPA and UNDP in group picture with the student

 Mr Joseph Amankwah, the Direc­tor of Ozone Layer and Climate Change at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has urged the youth to take a proactive stance on issues related to ozone depletion, emphasising that their future would be most affected by its consequences.

Speaking during a student engagement event at the Ghana Secondary School (GHANASS) in Koforidua, he highlighted the critical role young people played in tackling climate-related challenges.

Mr Amankwah explained that human activities, such as the use of certain chemicals, were significantly contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer and driving climate change.

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He said it was important to educate the youth on these issues, encouraging them to share this knowledge with their fam­ilies to foster a broader understanding and active participation in climate action.

He urged the education sector to integrate lessons on the ozone layer, the causes of its depletion, and its links to climate change into the curriculum.

The event, organised by the EPA in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was designed to foster environmental aware­ness and promote a sense of responsibili­ty among young people.

Mr Amankwah noted that ozone layer depletion was affecting everyone, includ­ing children, as it alters weather patterns and threatens the natural environment.

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He highlighted the need for young people to develop ‘green skills’ to adapt to the challenges of climate change and to understand ways to combat it.

He added that World Ozone Day, observed every September, would focus on youth engagement in environmental issues, to help them understand the long-term consequences of ozone depletion and climate change.

Mr Amankwah also discussed the harmful impact of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), a major chemical contributor to ozone depletion.

He explained that household applianc­es such as refrigerators and air condi­tioners were common sources of CFC emissions in Ghana.

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Many uncertified technicians work on these appliances, often releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere due to improper handling, he noted.

To address this, he urged appliance re­pairers to obtain proper certification and training, emphasising that unqualified repairs not only harm the environment but also endangered public health.

From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman,
Koforidua

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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury

• Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants

Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants

Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercu­ry in gold processing.

The sensitisation which was or­ganised by PlanetGOLD Ghana proj­ect was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.

According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sar­pong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challeng­es that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.

Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.

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Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several ini­tiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.

It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Con­vention on Mercury, support the for­malisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availabili­ty of mercury-free alternatives.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environ­mental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.

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He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaf­firmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.

 BY Cecilia Lagba Yada

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