Accra, May 29, GNA - Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture on Thursday said the global food crisis was an opportunity for Ghana to improve food productivity. "Our country has not yet been hit by the worse effect of this global phenomenon on food because we still produce the bulk of the food that we eat."

He said Ghana had enough food in stock even though prices were slightly higher now; the country was able to increase her production in roots and tubers

"Two reason that have accounted for the high food prices in the country are the seasonal changes since it is the beginning of a planting season and the high fuel prices," the Minister said.

Mr Debrah was speaking at a launch of a project dubbed: "West Africa Agriculture Productivity Programme (WAAPP) that sought to generate and disseminate improved technologies in agriculture to particular countries in the West African sub-region. He expressed the hope that between June and July this year food prices in the country would go down since it would be harvest time

Mr Debrah said researchers and agriculturalists should give priority to the WAAPP project adding that government together with development partners had developed a medium to long term support to agriculture in Ghana and the West African sub-region. Under the programme, Ghana would specialize in the production of root and tubers while Mali would specialize in rice and Senegal cereals. The project, he noted would also focus on strengthening the mechanisms and procedures for the dissemination of technologies allowing participating countries to benefit fully from the regional cooperation in technology that was being promoted.

The WAAPP would also ensure food security for Ghanaians and help the country overcome future challenges in the agricultural sector. The Minister said the first phase of the project would cost about 49.5 million dollars over a five-year period and urged the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to favour the agriculture sector when there was the need for government to release money for the project. He also urged implementers and scientists to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that, the country got value for the investment. Mr Joseph Faalong, National Project Coordinator, explaining details of the project said WAAPP was a two-phase 10-year adoptable programme each of five years duration involving Ghana, Mali and Senegal. He said the project was poverty focused and would lend voice to poor farmers in terms of accessing research materials.

He assured participants of an effective coordination and management system, evaluation and the setting up of national implementation units. Mr Peter Kristensen, Sector Leader in-charge of Sustainable Development at the World Bank said Ghana would receive support for the cultivation of root and tubers.

He said the WAAPP project was part of a comprehensive African Development Project with over half a billion dollars annually to the three countries.

Mr Kristensen expressed hope that Ghana would have its fair share of the funds to enable it to develop the agricultural sector and enhance food security.