Accra, March 18, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agricultural is set to address food security issues through a contingency planning and emergency preparedness to tackle the negative effects of climatic change and natural disasters.
Food and Agriculture Minister, Mr.Ernest Akubour Debrah, who announced this at the meet-the-press series in Accra on Tuesday explained that the emergency preparedness would include the establishment of strategic stocks and the provision of improved seeds and planting materials to ensure increased food production. Giving the outlook of food production for 2008, Mr Debrah said the Ministry would pursue its goal through the Second Food and Agriculture Sector Development Programme (FASDEP II) that seek to achieve improved growth in incomes and stability, application of science and technology in food and agriculture development and the sustainable management of land and environment among other things.
On irrigation, the Minister said the Ministry under the National Irrigation Policy, would improve the operational efficiency of existing and new irrigation scheme to contribute to food security objective. According to him, that would be pursued by sensitising and training 500 stakeholders in irrigation technology and providing marketing infrastructure such as drying floors, packing housings, and farm tracks to facilitate production on irrigation schemes.
On the agricultural situation in the three northern regions, Mr Debrah said the crop sector was seriously affected due to the unstable rainfall for the 2007 cropping year, which resulted in the drought and wilting of early planted crops and delay in agricultural activities. As a result, there was the need to provide input support for the affected farmers for the 2008 production year, the Minister said. He however assured that, there was enough food in the country until next harvest, adding that, the observed increase in the price of some food commodities, especially maize was as a result of speculations of shortages by farmers and traders.
On the Aveyime Rice project, Mr Debrah said a strategic investor had been found and negotiations had been ended but the issue of compensation to be paid to farm owners was being discussed at the Attorney General's Department.
