Accra, July 15, GNA - Government on Tuesday took a major stride towards the promotion of agricultural business, with the signing of a technical pact between the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of Ghana and the National Research Development Corporation of India (NRDC).

The memorandum of understanding between the two institutions would enable them to exchange ideas, which in the case of Ghana, would enable it to adopt Indian technologies, but adapt them to the country's development exigencies.

Also, the technical cooperation which is being spearheaded by Vice President John Mahama, would allow for the commercialization of research findings to the private sector to enable them to add value to a number of produce to reduce post-harvest losses. The essence is to wean Ghana off her reliance on imported food, and instead encourage the production of value-added or processed food packages in a bid to diversify the economy and create jobs. Vice President Mahama who witnessed the signing ceremony at the Castle, Osu, said the project fell in line with government's determination to apply modern technology to agricultural practice to create jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector. "That is the kind of thing we need to improve the quality of life of the people," he remarked.

He said the objective of the agreement was to commercialize research works undertaken by the CSIR to the private sector to augment their businesses and help in transforming the private sector. Vice President Mahama said Ghana would also be relying on a number of Indian research applications to help change the face of agricultural practice in the country.

He commended the Ambassadors of India and Brazil to Ghana for working hard with the government on programmes aimed at benefiting ordinary persons.

Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, said if successful, the agreement would allow for the production processed food on a large scale to reduce Ghana's dependence on imported food.

She said government was particularly worried about the phenomenon of post-harvest losses, and that the agreement would dwell on importing Indian applications to reduce such losses.

Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, Director-General of CSIR, described the agreement as a "germane" opportunity that would allow for the bridging of the gap between research institutions and industry, a feat which is said to have propelled India's industrialization and emergence as a global player.

He said it was time the scientific community in Ghana dwelled on bridging the gap that exists between they and the private sector, so as to allow for appreciable technological applications in agriculture practice in the country.

The Chairman and Managing Director of NRDC, Shri Somenath Ghosh, said enormous potentials and appropriate Technologies exist in India for the Ghanaian private sector to take advantage of under the agreement, to enable them to expand their businesses and create more jobs. He said the NRDC was willing to share experiences with the CSIR to boost business creation in Ghana.

The Indian Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Ruchi Ghanashyam, was satisfied that the agreement would support efforts geared towards reducing poverty in the country.

Madam Ghanashyam advised the two institutions to work sincerely together in view of the fact that the agreement had begun a true process of south-south cooperation and exchange of technology and experience between Ghana and Indian. 15 July 09