In a recent publication, Members of Parliament bemoaned the inadequacy of investment in the country’s agricultural sector, fearing the development could lead to food insecurity in Ghana.
They therefore urged government to put in the necessary emergency interventions to enable increased food crop production to nip the threat of food crisis in the bud.
The Members expressed these sentiments in contributions to a debate on the floor of the House on the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Performance Audit Report of the Auditor-General on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s (MOFA) support to farmers to increase food production.
We want to state that it was essential that government provides the MOFA with adequate resources to enable the Ministry to enhance the capacity of farmers in modern agricultural practices, improve existing irrigation facilities and build additional infrastructure to increase food production.
It is interesting to note that the report, covering the period between 2011 and 2013, observed that the MOFA delayed the distribution of improved seeds and fertilizer to farmers.
The explanation given was that the late distribution of seeds and fertilizer was due to the different agro-ecological zones and the two cropping seasons.
We believe this excuse is not tenable since the principal issue contributing to the late distribution of fertilizer is the type of subsidy being managed by MOFA.
The Ministry is currently managing a subsidy programme, under which government is partnering the private sector to buy and distribute a defined volume of fertilizer, after which government reimburses the private sector.
We are of the opinion that if government is unable to roll out the fertiliser subsidy in any year, it could result in a situation where only a small section of farmers can apply fertilizer to their crops and thus affect production levels in that particular year.
We recommended that the Ministry of Finance should endeavor to release the needed funds to MOFA to enable it to reimburse companies on schedule for prompt supply of fertilizers.
The Ministry should also ensure that subsidised fertilizers are supplied to farmers per the season of cropping in the northern and southern sectors of the country.
Furthermore, improved storage facilities such as metallic silos and Purdue Improved Crop Storage Bags should be provided to farmers, and a mechanism put in place to mop up excess cereals to reduce post-harvest losses for food security.
The report on developed irrigable lands stated that, the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy II (FASDEP II) meant to enhance the capacity of existing irrigation facilities from 30 per cent to 80 per cent, from 2007 to 2017, rather utilised only 59 per cent of existing 7,517 hectares of developed irrigable land.
According to the Auditor-General, 14 irrigation facilities in the Upper East, Northern, Brong Ahafo, Volta and Greater Accra Regions visited by the audit team were not working to full capacity because the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority had not rehabilitated most of the irrigation facilities over the years.
We believe that, it is important for the Finance Ministry to adhere to the provisions of the Maputo Declaration by ensuring that ten per cent of the national budget is ceded to agricultural sector.
If we are not careful, Ghana’s dwindling investment in agriculture would exact a toll on food production, with the sum effect being the impoverishment of the people.
Hence, government should take immediate steps to halt factors that are impeding effective land use for food production, including Galamsey operations
