Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister for Food and Agriculture, has reiterated that there is no food shortage in Ghana.
"There is no food shortage in Ghana as is being speculated, the food situations in the regions are enough evidence, however, we recognize that food is relatively expensive due to external factors".
The Minister said, the increase in prices of food commodities was not because of Ghana government's policies, but external factors such as the increment of imported chemicals and other external factors beyond their control.
Addressing staff of MOFA and farmers in the Eastern Region as part of his official tour, he assured that despite the external factors beyond control, the government was instituting measures to bring down cost of production to mitigate effect on consumers.
“We are encouraging farmers to switch to organic fertilizers produced locally to reduce the impact of fertilizer shortage on food production and urged the far west to switch quickly to the use of compost.
On financing from the banks, Dr Afriyie Akoto hinted that the government was looking at alternatives to compel banks to lend a portion of their loans to farmers to improve production.
That, he said was to address farmers' inability to acquire loans from the banks adding that several efforts to the banks had proved futile over the years and the banks preferred to give loans to business people than farmers.
Mr Henry Crentsil, Eastern Regional Director of MOFA, earlier disclosed that despite the shortage of fertilizers and cost of production, there were indications of high yields due to the planting for food and jobs and other interventions.
He said, for instance, farmers adoption rate of improved seeds had shot up drastically, particularly in maize and added that it was a sign of abundance of food and that the current soaring prices were seasonal.
The Minister, as part of the tour visited some commercial private farms including, the Legacy Crop Improvement Center (LCIC), a seed production hub at Otareso in the Akuapem North District and inspected the facility's warehouse embedded with a code room.
The team proceeded to visit Ibu's farms at Kwame Duodu.
Source: GNA
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The food messiah has spoken and if you are on the grounds you can see it. Food is In abundant in the market. Sir indeed you are working for Ghana God bless you
What the Minister said is true, increase in prices of food commodities are not because of Ghana government's policies, but the fact is that the external factors are contributing to it and that one is beyond the government control. Thank God and the sector minister that there's no food shortage in Ghana so those who are speculating food shortage so stop perpetuating evil.
There is no food shortage in Ghana. Good is in abundance. Josh is a ***barred word*** boy who don’t know what is happening on grounds. Josh has been paid to do this ***barred word*** thing. He has been paid to deceive the people. Dr. Akoto is working and through the hardwork Ghana is palaced on the safer side. Dr. Akoto is helping Ghana.
THIS GUY IS FULL OF LIES HE CANNOT CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS MINISTRY ***barred word*** LET ALONE THINKING OF LEADING GHANA NO NO NO HELL KNOW TOTAL ***barred word***, WHY ARE WE STILL DOING PEASANT FARMING. 14 CENTURY FORM OF AGRICULTURE. THE SOLUTION IS STOP PEASANT FARMING ***barred word***, FERTILIZER SUBSIDIES BY GOVERNMENT AND PROMOTE COMMERCIAL IRRIGATED FARMING IN GHANA AS DONE IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA. GHANA CAN GROW WHEAT JUST AS BRIZILE DOES IN COMMERCIAL FARMING. GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOW FARMERS TO BUY THEIR OWN FERTILIZER WITHOUT SUBSIDISING IN OPEN MARKET AND USE THE MONEY TO BUY FERTILIZER TO FLOOD THE MARKET THAT WILL DRIVE PRICES DOWN FOR ODINARY CONSUMER AND THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SMUGGLING SINCE IS NOT GOING TO BE PROFITABLE FOR SMUGGLERS. IF SMUGGLERS ARE CAUGHT CAUGHT CONFISCATE THEIR LOAD AND AUCTION IT OR GIVE IT TO COCOBOD TO HELP COCOA FARMERS. IN NORTH AMERICA AND MOST INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES. IF CHINA HAVE FOOD SECURITY FOR ONE YEAR TO FEED 1.4 BILLION POPULATION IS NOT BY PEASANT FARMING BUT COMMERCIAL IRRIGATED FARMING AND USING DRONES TO SPRAY FARMING IN MID AIR TO KILL INPESTICIDS. BUT GHANA CANNOT FEED 30 MILLION IS A SHAME ISN'T.