A Non-Governmental Organization, Sankofa Ghana Movement has noted it is going to invests in Ghana’s agriculture to stabilize the economy and, also end importation of basic food crops into the country.
According to the group, it is unfortunate the arable land along the Central, Ashanti, Volta, Greater Accra, Eastern and in the Northern regions of Ghana suitable for rice production are left ideal.
Describing the situation as a ‘disaster’ and worrying, statistics available indicate that from the year 2007 to 2015, the importation of rice, a leading import commodity in the country, rose from about 151 to 1,162 million dollars.
A member of the group, Obaapa Afia Nyantekyiwaa Akosombo speaking to Rite FM’s Asem Yi Di Ka Political Show on Tuesday night, said, their outfit is gearing up to invest hugely into large scale and mechanized farming, which will be powered by drones that will provide security through the use of modern technology, and also offer employment to the Ghanaian youth.
In her view, Ghana has the potential to feed its own citizens, the African sub region and the world at large but, drastic measures are however needed.
Ms Afia Nyantekyiwa said their intervention will employ over 3 million Ghanaian youth.
“We are seeking to employ over 3 million youth to work under this intervention. We are not just helping them to go into agriculture, but also help them go into processing through vocational education” she said.
The country imports basic food commodities including rice, tooth pick – now imports from Cote d’Ivoire and Liberia , tomatoes from Burkina Faso , onion from Niger, garlic from China, cabbage from Togo, carrots from Togo and Holland, kontomire’ and ginger from Togo and many more that could be produced in Ghana.
“Ironically, some of these countries are near-desert conditions and yet they are the ones that are now feeding Ghana, a country blessed with fertile land to produce but prefers to import food full of chemicals; it’s very bad” she said.
“We will organize the chiefs to support the program and we believed their effort will contribute to the success of such an intervention” she noted.
Source: ritefmonline.org/Austin Ofori Addo
