Hon. Lawyer Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and Member of Parliament for Techiman North, has urged farmers to embrace innovation and agro-processing as a pathway to higher yields and economic growth during the 41st National Farmers’ Day celebrations.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare stated that under President John Dramani Mahama, the government has made a deliberate decision to purchase Ghanaian farm produce rather than rely on imports.
“Under President Mahama, we made a simple but powerful decision, Government must use its purchasing power to buy Ghanaian farm produce instead of importing. This single policy is already stabilising markets and supporting thousands of farmers.” She said.
She acknowledged the challenges facing farmers in Techiman North and across Ghana, including climate change, unpredictable rainfall, market gluts, pests, and diseases. She encouraged farmers to embrace modern and climate-smart farming techniques to protect their investments and increase their yields.
“But my dear constituents, we also know the challenges are real. Climate change, unpredictable rainfall, glut during peak seasons, pests, and diseases continue to threaten our progress. These challenges require innovation not fear, not excuses.
“That is why we must embrace: High-yielding, climate-smart seeds, Mechanisation and modern irrigation, Better storage, aggregation, and marketing systemsNew technologies for precision farming and efficiency.
The Minster of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, further disclosed that her office is investing heavily in agro-processing to reduce post-harvest losses and add value to local crops. She further announced that a cashew processing factory in Techiman North is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed by February next year.
“Right here in Techiman North, my office is investing heavily in agro-processing to reduce post-harvest losses and add value to the crops we produce.
“I am happy to announce that the cashew processing factory is progressing steadily and will be completed by February next year. This project will create jobs, stabilise prices for cashew farmers, and strengthen our position in the global cashew market.
“Let me assure you, more processing plants are coming to Techiman North. We will not just grow raw materials, we will process, package, export, and build a stronger local economy that benefits our people directly.” She disclosed
Hon. Adom Kwabena Johnson, the Techiman North DCE, urged farmers to take advantage of government initiatives that strengthen the connection between agriculture and industry. He explained that prioritizing value addition, processing, and distribution will position agriculture as a profitable and appealing venture, particularly for young people.
“To strengthen connection between agriculture and industry, government will prioritize value addition, processing and distribution. This will position agriculture as a profitable and appealing venture making it more attractive to young people.”
Mr. Johnson highlighted an Agroforestry Program implemented by the District Agriculture Department in collaboration with the Ghana Crop Service Directorate and the Agroforestry Carbon Removal Unit for the Organic Restoration of Nature (ACORN).
He said the programme, part of the Carbon Credit Project, encourages farmers to plant trees and crops such as cashew, mango, and moringa on the same piece of land to reduce the effects of climate change caused by deforestation
“The Agric department in collaboration with Ghana Crop Service Directorate and Agroforestry Carbon Removal unit for the Organic Restoration of Nature (ACORN) embarked on an Agroforestry Programme under Carbon Credit Project, which sought to encourage farmers to consciously plant trees and crops such as Cashew, Mango and Moringa on the same piece of land aimed at reducing global impact and effects of climate change caused by deforestation. Under this project, farmers would benefit from the sale of carbon removal units from farms. Out of the 361 farmers who were registered through the use of ACORN Data Collection Tool (DCT) Application, 189 beneficiary farmers, were randomly selected and received 5938 mango; 11,892 cashew; and 20,633 moringa seedlings from World Food Programme (WFP) to help establish agroforestry on their farms.” He said.
Hon. Adom Johns also talked about other government interventions, including the Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) and the Coconut Federation of Ghana (Cocofeg), which distributed 15,000 hybrid coconut seedlings to farmers across the district.
“The Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness (PIAA) at the Office of the President, and the Coconut Federation of Ghana (Cocofeg) gave a consignment of 15,000 hybrid coconut seedlings as part of the Coconut Seedlings Distribution Initiative. These seedlings were distributed to farmers across the District.”
The Techiman North DCE further mentioned the Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for the Youth (HAPPY) project, which has trained 30 female youth farmers in tomato harvesting, sorting, grading, and processing in partnership with Technoserve.
“Furthermore, government initiative on Harnessing Agricultural Productivity and Prosperity for the Youth (HAPPY) project registered thirty (30) female youth farmers who received a two (2) day training on tomato harvesting, sorting and grading, as well as tomato processing under the partnership with Technoserve, which is the implementing Agency.
“The beneficiary farmers were given processing equipment of tomatoes to support them in their processing activities. The motive behind this initiative was to take advantage of the abundance of tomatoes in the District which mostly go bad due to poor market prices which could be Process into paste for sale to reduce post-harvest losses.” He said.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
