Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie-Akoto has begun a six-day tour of five regions across the country to promote agricultural production.
The four areas are Ahafo, Bono, Bono East, Ashanti and Eastern Regions.
The Minister’s tour forms part of government’s plans to increase production in six tree crops–cashew, coffee, rubber, shea butter, coconut and palm oil.
It was also to afford Dr Afriyie-Akoto the opportunity to see progress or otherwise of government’s flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs.
Speaking to journalists in Ahafo regional capital of Goaso, which was his first port of call last Monday, the Minister said government has resolved to turn its attention to the cultivation of more tree crops to ensure that the country rakes in the full benefit.
He said government was determined to place much premium on six more tree crops production.
Dr Afriyie-Akoto charged the District Director in-charge of Asunafo South, Kofi Senti, to, as a matter of urgency, ensure that irrigation facilities in the region were maintained to support this initiative by the government.
Even though cashew production was making some progress in the region, he was disappointed at the breakdown of its processing plant at Mim.
Dr Afriyie-Akoto therefore gave assurance that his ministry would ensure that the plant works again.
Presenting the overall performance of both crops and animal production in the region, the Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Kingsford Nyame, observed that despite some progress made, both crops and animal production were faced with some challenges.
These challenges, he mentioned, included the delay in the release of Modernising Agriculture (MAG) funds to District Agriculture Development Units (DADUs) and fertilisers to district assemblies.
He said the above factors impacted the overall performance of crops and animal production in the region.
“Inadequate veterinary staff members also contributed to the low output in the production of animals”, he added.
The presentation however, was without the first quarter of 2021 crop yield.
This did not sit well the minister who was obviously not happy.
According to Mr Nyame, there was marginal increase in yields of crops like maize, cassava, rice, cocoyam, yam and plantain in 2020.
For instance, he disclosed that “in 2020, rice production recorded 22,028 as compared to 10,494 in 2019.”
Furthermore, the Ahafo regional director of agriculture said animal production in 2020 also saw some increment.
Poultry production, for example, he revealed, recorded a 37.7% increment which is 631,592 in 2020 compared to 393,772 in 2019.
“Sheep production recorded a 24% change with 47,202 in 2020 as compared to 35,756 in 2019,” he disclosed.
Dr Afriyie-Akoto seized the chance to urge the regional agriculture directors to work with a sense of urgency to ensure that the investment made in both crops and animal production were realised.
He also tasked them to encourage more women in agriculture activities.
However, Inputs Dealers Association expressed worry about the rather slow supply of inputs.
Later, the minister and his entourage visited the Kenyasi Prison Farm of about 200 acres of land out a total of 600 acres and assured that his outfit would provide the needed machinery to uproot tree stumps to enable the expansion of the farm.
“We paid a courtesy call on the chief of Kenyasi who also complained about the road network”, he added.
Finally, the minister and his team interacted with some women who were into rice production, and promised to support them with machinery to enable them venture into large scale production.
