Agric faculties assist in developing agric. education policy

Koforidua, Dec. 16, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in collaboration with the faculties of Agriculture in the country's universities is developing an agricultural education policy that would ensure the production of requisite personnel to assist in the development of agro-businesses.

The Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Cape Coast has been contracted to review the academic curriculum of agricultural training institutes to make them responsive to MOFA's objectives.

Dr Felix Darmani, Assistant Agricultural Economists of the MOFA in Accra, made this known in a paper on the "Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) and Agriculture" at a two-day National Ecumenical Association for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (ECASARD) annual general meeting held at Koforidua on Friday.

The meeting attended by over 150 members from the seven southern regions, which exclude the three Northern regions, took stock of its activities during the past two years.

Dr Darmani noted that the role of agriculture in contributing to the goal of the GPRS was given prominence under the strategy for increased production and gainful employment, modernization of agriculture based on rural development to ensure increased production. He said the MOFA had also developed a Food and Agricultural Development Policy, which provided a comprehensive framework for agricultural development with emphasis on post-harvest management to complement the strategies of the GPRS.

Dr Darmani announced that Extension Liaison Committees, which were research demand-driven, had been established in all the 10 regions, while the process for private sector participation in extension delivery was going on.

He said the MOFA was working with a financial institution to bring in 1,000 pieces of Voni tractors from the Czech Republic while another 200 others had been ordered from India.

According to him, 90 assorted processing equipment, comprising rice mills, cashew plants, gari processors, oil palm extraction plants had been supplied to beneficiaries under the Village Infrastructure Project. He said the MOFA, with funding from CIDA, was supporting the Tamale Implements Factory to fabricate assorted farming tools and equipment for the promotion of Animal Traction in Northern Ghana.

Dr Darmani said farmer-based organizations were being developed to strengthen their capacity to access services and enhance their bargaining power.

He mentioned land tenure system, late/inadequate release of counterpart funds, the adoption of technologies, recruitment of extension agents and the co-ordination of activities as some of the challenges confronting the MOFA in the implementation of these strategies.

The National Coordinator of ECASARD, Dr King David Amoah, explained that his outfit was involved in capacity building, networking among members and stakeholders, advocacy and lobbying.

He said the association had also decentralized its activities, adding that a strong farmers' organization, which can lobby for increased production and marketing of products, new policies and programmes for the next two years and a financial policy were expected to be implemented after the meeting.

The National Chairman of the association, Mr. Phillips Adusei-Poku said it was their goal to facilitate the development of ECSARD into a democratic organization, effectively decentralised for regional programmes.

It would also promote partnership among members and other stakeholders, enhance the capacity of members to adopt participatory approach and practice sustainable agriculture and rural development as well as income-generating activities, he said.