Agri National

Set Up An Agricluture Development Authority – Farmer Morrisson

By: Joyce Bedeley

Farmer Anthony Morrisson – President of the Ghana Chamber of Agricbusiness Executives has strongly advocated for the setting up what he called an ‘Agriculture Development Authority’ that is capable of managing the affairs of the agricultural sector and wean it off support from the Central Government. This according to him stems from the fact that a thoroughly thriving agribusiness environment requires a drastic change in the face of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Mr. Morrison who made the call on Rite FM’s Agric Forum on Saturday told host Krobea Asante that any critical call regarding the sector should be a matter of concern to all and not only come from the sector minister.

“Declaring agriculture as a state of emergency should not only come from the agriculture Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie but rather all agriculture experts.”

He also blamed the politization of the agric ministry which has created the avenue to political leaders to make unfulfilled promises.

“Now the Ministry of food and Agriculture has politicized the agric sector which encourages our leaders to make wild promises which they don’t fulfill, rather than implementing rules and regulations that will favour the sector and farmers to transform them from their poor state as the backbone of the country.”

The President of the Ghana Chamber of Agricbusiness Executives also took up issues with foreigners who are taking over Ghanaian fishing and farming lands.

‘As it stands now, foreigners have come to occupy the Ghanaian farming lands and fisheries industry; for instance some Indians have settled in the Brong Ahafo region and these Indians are giving farmers samples of soyabeans for planting and then upon harvesting, the products are exported to Indian. This means that foreigners are rather benefiting from the Ghanaian farmer which is unacceptable.’

He also added that Ghanaian farmers are not treated fairly because they easily access loans from the financial institutions, a priveliege that many Ghanaian farmers are denied.

Mr. Morrison therefore called for the regulation of the agric sector in order to get the utmost benefit for the Ghanaian farmer ‘else a time will come when the cost of food will be higher than that of fuel,’ he added.

Source: ritefmonline.org

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