Modernize Ghanain traditional agriculture : report

Agriculture was the most important source of growth in the Ghanaian economy between 2000 and 2005, with an average of about 5.1%, while services and industry averaged 5.0% and 4.5% respectively. Agriculture remained a dominant sector up to 2005, contributing 42% to GDP, while services and industry contributed 31% and 27% respectively. From 1995 to 2005 the contribution of agriculture to the country's GDP declined marginally from 42.7% to 41.9%, while the services sector's contribution to GDP increased by 0.6%, and that of industry by 0.2 of a percentage point.

Problems in agriculture include the sector being predominantly rain-fed, with undeveloped irrigation systems. Average fertilizer use of about 34,000 tonnes/annum in the last decade, as well as agriculture being mostly smallholder activity, has prompted the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) to propose agriculture modernization in order to attain national goals. The NDPC noted that the average use of fertilizer in the agriculture sector was one of the lowest in Africa and probably the world.

The report indicated that lack of effective post-harvest handling led to large losses of crop production. Land degradation had serious consequences for sustainable growth and productivity. Lack of feed for livestock in the dry season also constituted a problem for traditional agriculture.

"Several technologies (improved seeds, genetically modified crops and integrated pest management) that have been developed and disseminated to increase productivity have had little or no adoption rates due to cost and cultural preferences", the NDPC report added. To reverse the trend, NDPC stated, "the key solution to the problems of traditional agriculture in Ghana is modernizing agriculture" and added that this has been the focus of government's last two economic development strategies. It said it was important for this to be tackled on several fronts simultaneously to involve all segments of stakeholders in the transformation process. It must be based on the experiences of other developing countries, but consistent with Ghana's development objectives and compatible with its social context.

Further, the report mentioned that key interventions should include out-grower and irrigation development schemes, and farmer based organization/community training programs. Others include locally-owned storage facilities, agro-processing plants, and infrastructure development for energy and transport.

AllAfrica.com