Ghana has recovered from the initial drawback in food production as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, avoiding an imminent crisis. This has been attributed to government’s Planting for Food and Jobs policy as well as other relevant programmes aimed at ensuring that the country is self-sufficient.
Speaking at the opening of a training workshop for Farmer Based Organisations in Accra, the Chief Director at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Robert-Patrick Ankobiah said although food production was affected at the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic, production normalised with assistance from government.
The Technical Education Development for Modernised Agriculture in Ghana (TEDMAG) is spearheading a project on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to sensitise Farmer Based Organisations on the need to employ modern Agricultural techniques to increase yield.
The project, which is ongoing in 8 regions with 160 participants, is modeled on 3 components, which are to equip students in agric colleges with practical skills, build capacity for Agric extension officers and rehabilitate critical infrastructure in colleges of Agriculture.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Robert-Patrick Ankobiah, emphasised the importance of employing modern Agric practices to ensure increased food production.
He said government’s Planting for Food and Jobs policy played a significant role in helping to normalize food production in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When we were touting Planting for Food and Jobs about what it has been able to do, some of the skeptics were saying they don’t see it. But the Coronavirus test has shown that we were able to take care of ourselves internally. We did not have a shortage of food. Government’s Planting for Food and Jobs has contributed significantly to this.”
Director of Human Resource at the Ministry, Lawoetey Tetteh, emphasised the need to focus on the business side of agriculture with emphasis on Processing. The training of trainers workshop is expected to last from August 18 to August 29.
Story by: Nathaniel Nartey.
