Agriculturist calls for national dialogue

Mr Issa Ouedraogo, promoter of social inclusive agriculture, on Tuesday advocated a national dialogue on productive farming systems and techniques that could elevate youth unemployment and food security in the country.

He said the national dialogue on agriculture in Ghana must redefine and come up with clear objectives that were achievable within a time frame, using the numerous potential of the agricultural sector.

Mr Ouedraogo, a UN award winner on sustainable agriculture development, has also introduced the newest model of farming which sought to uplift and change the lifestyle of farmers and to make the sector attractive to the younger generation.

He said agriculture also had the potential to serve as alternative to oil, gas and mineral mining which were depleting natural resources adding; “Ghana with all the good weather cannot afford to wallow in food scarcity even in the next 20 years”.

Mr Ouedraogo, a former Regional Best farmer, told the Ghana News Agency in Mpohor, that the country continued to import all manner of vegetables into the country while there were viable lands to encourage the cultivation of these and other farm products in the country.

He said sustainable agriculture could be tied to all vital sectors of the national economy even in the extractive sector to ensure that the local economy grew and developed.

Mr Ouedraogo added that the prospects of agriculture in economic management and overall national development could not be under estimated adding that farming and, for that matter, agriculture was the vehicle required at this critical moment of our national life to create jobs for the youths.

He said agriculture could also address hunger and guarantee food security, improve the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country and connect industry to local community development through this new model and its related branches.

Mr Ouedraogo, originally an ICT specialist, left the sector to pursue his passion for agriculture and currently operates B-BOVID limited which sought to build businesses in the agricultural sector such as Acqua-culture, Agro-processing, Agro-eco tourism and diversified farming on values, integrity and dignity.

He said B-BOVID planned to support 7000 oil palm out growers in the Central and Western regions within three years whiles hoping to train 3000 farmers interested in getting deeply involved in outgrowing.

“We also have plans to train and support 2000 fisher folk to go into aqua culture, in addition we would train 3000 youth to acquire skills in pig rearing and integrate over 4000 women into viable agro processing businesses,” he said.

He said 3000 youths are to be trained to acquire skills on vegetable farming and its processing to feed the expatriates in the oil and gas sector.

Despite the potential of the sector, Mr Ouedraogo expressed unhappiness that farmers in the country had for many years not gained any proper recognition by decision makers despite their efforts to feed Ghana.