Agric Sector Calls For More Practical Initiatives From Government

Industry players in the agricultural sector have said despite moves by government to introduce a number of laudable policies, more practical steps need to be taken to develop the sector. Last year, according to figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service, the first quarter estimates of the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) showed a decline of 5. 1 percent in the first quarter of 2011 over the fourth quarter of 2010. The decline was largely attributed to the weak performance in the agricultural sector. The weak performance is usually associated with the sector�s strong seasonal production pattern. According to analysts, the negative growth in agriculture is characteristic of the first and second quarters of each year. Government in its bid to improve the performance of the sector has announced that it intends to introduce new policies to improve the sector, but the Deputy General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union, Edward Kareweeh told Citi Business News government needs to do more. �How much of those intentions are carried out is what are there to witness. Mechanized agriculture, introducing technology and subsidising fertiliser prices are all laudable policies but they are not sufficient to address our situation today and to guarantee food security,� Kareweeh explained. He said that although Ghana was not doing badly in terms of food security, he advised that the state address the issue of food shortage within the country. �Even if you give fertiliser subsidy, and there is not water for cropping, the subsidy will not necessarily realise in the increase in production,� he argued.