Africa-Press – Ghana. Weta Rice Farmers Association of Ghana (WRIFAG), a farmer-based organisation, has declared that the future of economic growth and development lies in agriculture.
Mr Sampson Klutsey Gamenyah, Patron of WRIFAG, who made the assertion, emphasised the vast potential of the agricultural sector to drive economic progress and create employment opportunities and called on stakeholders, especially the government to invest in the sector.
He said this in an interview in reaction to efforts by Mr Gabriel Adovoe Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, Volta Region’s representative on the Council of State to develop the agricultural sector in the region and turn it into a strong driver of growth and opportunity for everyone.
Mr Kwamigah-Atokple, who is also a rice farmer, about two weeks ago toured some communities in the region like Weta, Afife, Avalavi, Atiteti, and other surrounding areas to explore potential investment opportunities in agriculture that could create jobs for the youth and help grow the local economy.
The tour with his partners discussed the need to support the establishment of sugar processing factories, rice milling machines, and Kaset Phattana brand combine harvester from Thailand, and recognised the potential in expanding fish farming as part of a broader effort to strengthen agriculture in the region.
Mr Gamenyah appreciated Mr Kwamigah-Atokple’s “concern, interest and involvement in matters relating to agriculture development in Ghana” saying, it appeared that “a new air of understanding about agriculture and sustainable development is blowing among leaders in Africa, and particularly in Ghana.”
He also commended four others from the region – Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, Mr John Dumelo, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr Edem Agbana, Member of Parliament for Ketu North and Mr Martin Amenaki, Municipal Chief Executive of Ketu North for having demonstrated a keen interest in agriculture long before coming to occupy their current positions.
The WRIFAG Patron emphasised that “as a developing nation, the biggest opportunity we have to be able to survive in this global village is in agriculture” and called on authorities to work closely with farmer groups in the country, including WRIFAG.
“One major problem seriously affecting agriculture in Ghana is poor policy formulation and implementation. Once you get the formula wrong, the answers will definitely be wrong. Successful agriculture demands successful group work. Let politicians work closely with WRIFAG and other strong farmer groups in the country and we shall see vibrant and resilient economic growth within two years.”
He recommended, “precision agriculture, especially in Ketu and Akatsi areas, with comparative advantages in rice, cassava and fish farming, vigorous development of irrigation structures and technology, conscious interconnected activities in input supply,
financial support and market distribution and a total revolution in the mindset of the financial sector towards agriculture” to fight against eminent poverty and hunger.
WRIFAG is a 312-member Association, comprising 232 male and 80 female farmers of different professional backgrounds – artisans, teachers, doctors, mechanics, administrators and business people from four main districts of Ketu North, Ketu South, Akatsi North and Akatsi South in the Volta Region.
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