By Abdul-Kudus Fuseini, Tamale
Managing Director of African Connections Dr. Ayesha Hakeem has stated that it is unthinkable for government to be left alone to shoulder the responsibility of modernising and developing the agricultural sector.
According to her, Ghana?s agricultural challenges are numerous and need a coordinated public-private-partnership approach in order to confront them.
?We believe that government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of modernising the agricultural sector in the country; it behoves all of us to join forces and map-out strategies that will help address challenges to the sector.
?It is time for African leaders to increase investment in agriculture and encourage public-private-partnerships to ensure that all farmers, large and small, contribute to ensuring food security on the continent.?
Dr. Ayesha said this at a three-day agric conference in Tamale convened by African Connections — a development consulting firm specialised in market-driven agriculture for rural economic development.
The third edition of the annual ?Focus on Agriculture? Conference and Exhibition provided a platform for stakeholders to renew the call for market-focused agriculture for rural development and afforded participants across the agric sector an opportunity to network, share ideas and come up with workable solutions to address identified challenges within the sector.
Dr. Ayesha explained that agricultural challenges in the country can only be solved if government and the private sector redouble their efforts to increase the competitiveness of value chain actors so that incomes across the value chain improve.
?An efficient value chain is an essential ingredient for agriculture to play a role in driving rural economic development.
?This conference and exhibition forms part of African Connections dedication and commitment to transforming the agriculture sector from subsistence level to a commercial one,? she added.
Food and Agriculture Minister Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi said the theme ?Market-Driven Agriculture for Accelerated Rural Economic Development? reflects the goals and objectives of the ministry — of transforming and modernising the agric sector to produce more for domestic consumption and export.
He stated that the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy (FASDEP) of the ministry places emphasis on graduating from a subsistence-based smallholder system to a sector characterised by stronger market-orientation based on a combination of productive smallholders alongside larger commercial enterprises engaged in agriculture production, agro-processing and other activities along the value chain.
He said the ministry has put in place several mechanisms and programmes that are empowering small-holders to transition from subsistence level to a more commercial operational system.
?Through these initiatives, smallholders are getting access to inputs such as fertilisers, improved and quality seeds; and equipment at subsidised rates to help improve productivity, enhance incomes and market access.?
He said that the agric ministry will help strengthen the value chain system by developing private-public-partnerships and smallholder linkages to ensure that farmers have timely access to inputs and markets.
