The Chief of Kumasi Bantama, Baffour Owusu Amankwatia IV, has called on the government of Ghana to stop riding on rain-fed agriculture and build more irrigation facilities across the country.
Ghana has been relying on rainfall for its agricultural activities for centuries, and this approach has not been helpful to the country’s food production, hence there have been several calls for the full scale irrigation facilities amid the global warming.
In recent times, the Minister of Food and Agricultural Dr. Owusu Afriyie and the Deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana has alluded low crop yield to bad weather patterns and climate change.
It is against this backdrop, that the Bantamahene has added his voice to the call.
Speaking at the 2022 Annual General Meeting of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bantamahene underscores the need for the government to embark on such a project amid the climate change impact.
We are experiencing global warming, and it would be appropriate for the government to step up its obligation in ensuring that we produce food all year round without any flimsy excuses.
Citing China and Israel as case studies, he wants the government to show great commitment to achieving this since it is doable. We can’t continue to rely on a rain Fed agriculture system in this current generation and technological age, he said.
He, therefore, implores the government to support the location production of organic fertiliser and cut down the use of inorganic fertiliser.
Bantamahene believes that agro-processing can turn the fortunes of the country round and therefore called on the ministry of finance to provide the needed funding for building agro-processing industries in the country since we can’t continue putting on the burden on the advanced countries.
In his open remarks, Bantamahene charges the government to pay particular attention to the plight of the peasant farmers in the country, due to their key contributions to the Gross Domestic Product of the nation.
