Kumasi, March 25, GNA - The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has embarked on a programme of renewal and rededication to confront the challenges of the application of science and technology in the Ghanaian agriculture.

Mr Ernest Akobour Debrah, the sector Minister, who announced this, said this had become necessary in view of the adverse weather conditions that were affecting food production in the country, as well as the escalating food prices on the world market. Speaking at an orientation workshop for Agricultural Extension Agents (AEA), Researchers, District and Regional Directors of the Ministry in Kumasi on Monday, Mr Debrah said there was the need for the Ministry to redefine its strategies and ensure that farmers used improved farming methods and technology to increase food production in the country.

The workshop was to examine and discuss strategies for promoting agricultural technology adoption, examine technology promotion strategies implemented over the years, their outcomes and constraints and plans put in place to overcome the constraints. Mr Debrah pointed out that extension approach characterized by practical demonstration and defined with clarity was an important pre-condition for the success of technology dissemination programme. He said the goal of MOFA was to encourage the use of modern inputs that would help liberate the deprived and disadvantaged farmers from the grip of extreme low yields.

The Minister said the survival of the nation depended on agriculture and there was the need to adopt measures to transfer technology to farmers to increase production and appealed to all stakeholders to support the programme.

Dr Gyiele Nurah, Chief Director at the Ministry said no country had achieved significant increase in agricultural production without the effective application of science and technology.

He said through the promotion of sustainable technologies, food production could be increased adding that, AEAs played vital role in field delivery to the farmers and advised them to adopt practical approach to ensure farmers accepted and adopted new methods in farming. Mr George Badu-Yeboah, Ashanti Regional Director of Agriculture, said if the field work was not effectively and efficiently executed, there would be no positive results in food production and called for the provision of the needed inputs for AEAs to perform.