Africa-Press – Ghana. Madam Sandra Ofori, Hohoe Municipal Director of Agriculture, has said the conversion of grain and cassava fields in the Municipality into ginger fields was worrying.
She said the phenomenon meant that more money would be generated from ginger and other crops at the expense of food production which could lead to an artificial shortage of food.
Madam Ofori in her address at the 37th District edition of the National Farmers Day at Alavanyo Kpeme said the activity was causing maize and rice to be very expensive in the Municipality.
“I believe people will say that Agric production should lead to the generation of income but in our quest for income generation, let us not allow that quest to lead to the artificial shortage of food and astronomical increase in food prices.”
She said the Department could not ask people not to use the lands to generate income.
Madam Ofori however advised that available land spaces around households should be used to cultivate crops like maize and vegetables consumed to cushion the Municipality from the artificial shortages created.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic had affected the agricultural sector adversely and would continue to do so for some years to come.
Madam Ofori noted that Ghana does not produce inorganic fertilizer and relied on other countries for fillers and nutrients.
“The pandemic has caused most of those factories to be shut down and hence the shortage of fertilizer for some period. This problem has been solved with liquid organic fertilizer.”
Madam Ofori said the Department had rolled out some programmes in the various operational areas by establishing 36 demonstrations farms including various crops, livestock, poultry as well as nutrition and food hygiene across both Hohoe Municipal and Guan District.
“The Department will continue to build the capacity of staff and farmers to be abreast with modern technologies of farming.”
She said the Department intended to vaccinate local poultry against Newcastle Diseases in the Municipality in the anticipation of receiving some quantities of layers and cages under the Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ) for female poultry farmers.
“These are not free but at a subsidised price. These birds will arrive anytime soon.”
She said the climate change phenomenon required careful planning to take advantage of whatever conditions were being presented by nature.
“Indiscriminate tree felling, bush burning and other practices that endanger biodiversity should be avoided and good practices like tree planting should be adopted by every community to help in the adaptation and mitigation of the effects of the climate change phenomenon.”
The 37th edition of the celebration is themed: “Planting for Food and Jobs – Consolidating Food Systems in Ghana.”
Mr Daniel Noble Awumey, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said the Municipality had benefitted from the government’s interventions in the agricultural sector.
He said a modern rice processing mill to mill and package rice produced for markets nationwide, was being constructed at Gbi-Godenu.
Mr Awumey said a warehouse was also being constructed to store food crops produced in the Municipality which he believed would contribute significantly to food production and security as well as job creation for many youths.
He congratulated the farmers for their involvement and personal investments under the pandemic pressure while hoping that the Municipality would produce a National Best Farmer in the future.
A total of 13 major and six consolation awards were given to deserving farmers across the Municipality.
Reverend Joseph K. Ocloo, a 57-year-old from Gbi-Godenu was adjudged overall Best Municipal Farmer while Madam Victoria Som, from Alavanyo Agome won the 1st Runner Up position.
Rev Ocloo commended the government for interventions such as Planting for Food and Jobs which he was a beneficiary.
He said there was the need for support through access to grants and loans at minimum interest rates.
Rev Ocloo said there must be an association of past award winners to serve as a guide and encouragement to all who were interested in venturing into farming including the youth.
Togbega Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief of Alavanyo Traditional Area, said the importance of food to human survival could not be overlooked adding that food was medicine.
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