Kojo Tamakloe

Ghana the choices we face, NPP or NDC and when shall we have the worlds’ best chocolate producer?

Quotes
“Ghana falks paying for on the job training of unquilfied mahama, “

‘Continue your stupidity until you realize one day that there is no future for your children. I wonder if you are one of those who are going through hardships in the country. You don't see any wrong in NDC. Idiots like you are the very reason Ghana is in its current status. Well, kudos to you and the bunch of moron Nation Distroyers Council for according us the title of the Worst Currency in the World. You've made Zimbabwe currency looks like America Dollar, useless ndc govt, clueless bastards are now feeling the heart of their stupidity by not listening to BAWUMIA FOR advise.criminal gangs parading themselves as party.SHAME,SHAME” These are quotes from a website by Ghanaians and I wondered how these can save us
Previously there was this
“Some say farming doesn’t pay well and that it’s just a waste of a person’s life. Others say it’s a job for the illiterate but I beg to differ because I have been in farming throughout my life and trust me when I say that farming pays very well”.
Opanyin Abraham Kwaku Adusei, the man who just made Ghana proud at the recently held International Cocoa Conference (ICCO) in Amsterdam, Netherland, owns over 400 acres of cocoa farms situated at Osiem and Elubo in the Eastern and Western Region, respectively.
Farming in Ghana
He is of the view that one of the reasons that make people, especially the youth, to ignore farming is the wrong perception they hold and lack of support.
According to Opanyin Adusei, the erroneous perception concerning agriculture in Ghana continues to take a devastating effect on Ghana’s effort to economic transformation.
He said most of the youth have been socialised into thinking that agriculture “is an old man’s profession.”
“Compounding the problem is the fact that most of these youth do not have the support and land to farm. Those who are willing to give you the land do it under extreme conditions.”he said.
According to Opanyin Adusei, until the erroneous perception was removed and the youth were properly assisted by institutions such as the banks and the society, the youth would continue to see farming as a curse and punishment.
“Whoever brought the idea that when a student flouts school rules, they should be punished to work on the farm has done the country a disservice but the country can still correct this error,” he said. Ghanaians which would you have , one that sees the problems and comes up with solutions or, one that comes up with INSULTS
I quote below the research findings of the Ministry of agriculture in 2010
“Agriculture continues to be the largest sector of Ghana’s economy, contributing about 39% of GDP compared to about 26% for the industry sector and 31% for the services sector. Arable and industrial crop production has increased only marginally over the last 10 years with the only exception being cocoa which increased significantly between 2000 and 2005. Cotton and coffee production declined very significantly in the last decade. While there is little reliable information on the livestock sub-sector, it is known that the country’s meat situation is deficit to the tune of over 95,000 metric tonnes annually. There is similarly a deficit of about 460,000 metric tonnes with respect to fish. The identified basic problems of the agriculture sector include: reliance on rainfed agriculture and low level and relatively inefficient irrigated agriculture; low level of mechanization in production and processing; high post harvest losses as a result of poor post harvest management; low level and ineffective agricultural finance; poor extension services as a result of several institutional and structural inefficiencies; lack of ready markets and processing; low performing breeds of livestock; poor feeding of livestock; high cost of feed for poultry; poor livestock housing and husbandry management; competition from imports and poor post-production management of livestock products; over-fishing of natural waters; undeveloped fish value chain (e.g. inadequate supply systems for fingerlings and feed) and lack of skills in aquaculture. Who will sort the problems out, Government, private individuals or a combination ? As we shout government , government , government and then condemn socialism , let us answer , what do we want ?
VISION, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES
Vision
The Vision for Ghana’s Agriculture Sector is “a modernised agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty”.
Mission
MOFA has lead responsibility for the agriculture sector within the context of a coordinated Government programme. The Mission of MOFA is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers and fishers, processors and traders
2 AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION TRENDS
2.2.1 Arable Crop Production
Areas planted to different crops have increased only marginally since 2000. Overall percentage increase in cultivated area between 2000 and 2008 is about 17.3% or an average of about 1.9% per year over the period (SRID, 2008). Overall increase in production of all arable crops between 2000 and 2008 is also about 41.1% or 4.6% per year over the period (SRID, 2008). Recent studies of the components of agricultural growth suggest that most agricultural growth has been mainly due to land area expansion as opposed to yield increases (Diao, 2005). A World Bank study has, however, indicated that total factor productivity (TFP) accounted for 60% of agricultural sector growth between 2001 and 2005 and some of that growth can be “traced to specific, productivity-enhancing measures and results in the cocoa sector” (World Bank, 2007). For example, while land for cocoa trees expanded at an annual 5% growth rate, it had a yield growth rate of 17%. Also while fibre crops declined in acreage they maintained an annual yield growth rate of 6%.
2.2.2 Industrial Crop An attached table clearly indicates the dominant role of cocoa and oil palm in the industrial crop sub-sector. The cocoa sub-sector experienced phenomenal growth between 2003 and 2005. The oil palm sub-sector has also been growing steadily. The rubber and coconut sub-sectors have also grown but only marginally. As indicated in the Table , rubber production increased by 28.1% between 2000 and 2006 while coconut production increased by only 6.7% within the same period
The production of cotton and coffee has however declined very significantly over the years. The seed cotton industry has had serious problems largely related to unguided liberalization of the sub-sector as well as the downturn in world market prices since the beginning of the new millennium. The indebtedness of cotton companies to the Agricultural Development Bank coupled with the influx of a large number of unproductive private cotton companies has brought the industry to a near collapse.
About 30,000 metric tons of sheanuts were collected in 2000 and that increased to 105,000mt in 2003 before falling again to 30,000mt in 2005. The shea industry is currently largely unorganized partly because there are no sheanut farms. Shea trees are semi-wild and the nuts are gathered, mainly by women
The country has encouraged the export of other agricultural commodities over the years as a strategy to diversify exports. The main ones have been pineapple, yam, bananas, fish, cashew, mangoes, papayas and sheanuts. The indication is that there is considerable potential for the export of non-traditional agricultural exports and an enabling environment should be created for their production
Horticultural crops (fruits and vegetables) play a major role in food and nutrition security as they are not only sources of income but they are also good sources of vitamins, minerals and dietary fibre. Although FAO and WHO recommend a daily intake of at least 400g/person (146kg/person/year) of fruits and vegetables, Africa has been put on record as the least nourished of all the continents in the world with fruit and vegetable intake of 100g/day or lower compared to 300g/day for those in developed countries. The horticulture industry is export-oriented and statistics on domestic production and trade are scanty. Only a small percentage of horticultural crop farmers are engaged in production for export. There is need to improve on productivity and reduction of postharvest losses through improved harvesting and post harvest handling practices of horticultural crops. Consistent promotion of the regular consumption of adequate amounts of varieties of fruits and vegetables would also improve nutrition and income generation

The economy of Ghana, has a diverse and rich resource base Ghana is one of the top-ten fastest growing economies in the world, and the fastest growing economy in Africa
The youth must be made to understand that agriculture, aside from being the backbone of Ghana’s economy, is profitable. They must be properly informed that agriculture is the key to alleviating poverty and self-empowerment,”. Opanyin Edusei had to overcome an obstacle mostly from his close associates to become what he is . His insight for agriculture started from childhood , through the encouragement of his parents . Opanyin Edusei is also educated , which is why a good educational system is important . Then he read a science subject and then applied that knowledge . The question is how far have we educated the youth about agriculture ? Sure the current government gives an annual award for the best farmer and last year one Mr Agbo won .

Challenges 1 Meat is deficit to the tune of over 95,000 metric tonnes annually. 2 Fish has a deficit of about 460,000 metric tones 3. The : reliance on rainfed agriculture and low level and relatively inefficient irrigated agriculture;4 low level of mechanization in production and processing; 5 high post harvest losses due to poor post harvest management Silos were answer but got destroyed 6; low level of agricultural finance;7 poor extension services as a result of several institutional and structural inefficiencies; 8 lack of ready markets and processing;9 low performing breeds of livestock; poor feeding of livestock 10 high cost of feed for poultry; poor livestock housing and husbandry management; 11 competition from imports and poor post-production management of livestock products;12 over-fishing of natural waters; undeveloped fish value chain (Nkrumah had a fingerlings supply for tilapia which was introduced into the Volta dam , but was aborted ) and lack of skills in aquaculture.13 Heavy water body contamination 14 Politicization of the environment . In this sense those who want “ power at all costs’ seek to undermine the ruling government . I may also add over centralization as some of these things can be done at the local level . Of course opponents of this government will shout insults but offer no solutions .

Ghana is in dire straits , but with a little effort can re bounce . The curse we have is the people who cannot understand that “ a house divided against itself cannot stand “ . We need to organize better and remove corruption As I write Pawlugwu remains idle, Cotton fields are dead, Textile factories remain idle or are operating at 20-35% capacity, we are importing vegetables, meat, fish, and the Cedi depreciates and prices are going up and we shout insults , upon insults . Na who causam? What are we using our education for ?
PS Ghana has just accepted IMF bailout . What that means to the country, we are yet to know. But what I know is we cannot be wealthy by being a high import country and consumers. We have to start producing . We need to revert to the era of “ Work and happiness”

Forward ever , backward ever


The writer Kojo Tamakloe is a Pan Africanist , who believes African Unity is the solution to its underdevelopment