4 key points from the Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture’s vetting

Mr. Eric Opoku, the Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture, appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, 20 January 2025, to share his vision for transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector.

He addressed critical issues such as declining cocoa production, challenges in the poultry sector, youth involvement in agriculture, and institutional farming initiatives.

Ghana’s Cocoa Production at a Two-Decade Low

Mr. Eric Opoku expressed grave concern over the significant drop in cocoa production, marking its lowest point in 20 years. He cited Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) data, which recorded the season’s output at 530,000 metric tonnes.

Mr. Opoku revealed that Ghana had defaulted on an $800 million syndicated loan taken to purchase 850,000 tonnes of cocoa due to unmet production targets. He pledged to prioritise resolving the debt and tackling the financial difficulties within the sector.

Revamping Ghana’s Poultry Sector

The Minister-Designate described the poultry industry as “in crisis” and outlined the Poultry Farm to the Table Programme as a solution. He explained that the initiative would provide poultry farmers with financial support to expand their operations and increase production.

He also identified the high cost of poultry feed as a significant challenge and committed to ensuring the production of affordable feed to alleviate the burden on farmers.

Making Agriculture Attractive to the Youth

Mr. Opoku stressed the importance of engaging young Ghanaians in agriculture, proposing a government initiative to acquire and prepare land for agricultural purposes before handing it over to farmers. This, he explained, would increase food production and bolster food security.

He also highlighted plans to recruit more agricultural extension officers to address the shortage of technical support available to farmers.

Institutional Farming in Secondary Schools

To strengthen the agricultural sector, Mr. Opoku proposed that every secondary school in Ghana establish its own farm. He noted that this initiative would support the school feeding programme by reducing costs while improving the quality and quantity of food provided to students.

He further emphasised that institutional farming would enhance food security in schools and foster a deeper appreciation for agriculture among students.

The post 4 key points from the Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture’s vetting appeared first on MyNewsGh.