The need to prioritize agriculture in Ghana has been coming up very strongly in recent times. With threats of food shortages staring us in the face as a country, the time is long overdue for us to take a critical look at our food production in Ghana. The government is being forced to take adhoc steps to avert grains shortage whiles the impact of galamsey continues to bare heavily on agriculture in Ghana. At this stage, it is safe to say that food production and food availability have become significant national security issues in Ghana.
As a money management coach, I will in this article contribute one idea towards the sustainability of our agriculture and consequently, food security.
In 2018, I published an article on social media about our national farmers’ day commemorations and the best farmers’ awards that came with the commemoration. I stated that the idea was a brilliant one which had huge potential of providing due recognition for our farmers and also motivating them to even do more. The fact that the celebration and the awards have been sustained since the time of former President Jerry John Rawlings, through John Agyekum Kufour, the Late Atta Mills, John Dramani Mahama and now Akufo Addo governments is great attestation to the relevance of the scheme.
Statistics place the percentage of farmers in Ghana at 52% of the population.
As a wealth creation consultant, it is key that this significant aspect of our population thrive economically if this country is to be considered prosperous in economic terms.
It is unfortunate that this group of workers within our economy however are amongst the poorest, and in spite of numerous rhetoric by politicians and various organizations are unable to bring significant economic progress into the lives of these farmers.
For me, the solution to the woes of the farmer is to empower them to farm All year round.
Already, Ghana has fertile lands and great human resource to go into serious food production. We have the capacity to feed ourselves and export to others. All we need is to maximize the use of our lands and human resource and reduce losses especially post-harvest losses.
One key proposition that will help fix our agricultural woes and hence the economic situation of our farmers involves re-evaluating the National Farmers’ Awards scheme with a special focus on the award items presented to the farmers.
Overdependence on nature
Inasmuch as nature provides us with amazing diversity of resources and opportunities, over-reliance on nature can also present serious risks and difficulties. It is for instance very risky to depend solely on rain-fed agriculture. The reliance on rainfall can result in food shortages and unstable economies in areas where rainfall is erratic. Nations that have attained resilience and agricultural success have done so by combining creative methods with strategic planning that extends beyond the basic use of natural resources.
A strategy that is balanced and takes into account the necessity of adaptability and diversification while also acknowledging the vital role that nature plays is necessary for sustainable development. To ensure that our relationship with the environment stays beneficial and harmonious, it is imperative that we integrate sophisticated technologies, promote sustainable habits, and construct resilient systems. We can use nature’s gifts without succumbing to its unpredictable character if we do this, guaranteeing a future that is more sustainable and safer for everybody.
Bore holes for best farmers
In agricultural terms, irrigation is the artificial application of fresh water to land for crop growth. Most importantly, it serves as a substitute for rainfall in supporting plant development.
There are various irrigation techniques such as drips, sprinkling, open surfaces, furrows, and others exist to help cater for the water needs of crops no matter the size and contour of the land.
Our diligent farmers, during these farmers’ awards are given items like vehicles, motor operated tricycles, television sets, cash amongst others during farmers’ day awards. Inasmuch as it is a good motivating factor, I believe that each top district farmer should rather receive a drilled borehole.
Ghana is currently divided into sixteen (16) regions, and there are still more divisions inside the two hundred and sixty-one (261) Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Stated differently, a total of 261 farmers would get annual awards for their extraordinary labour in all of the MMDAs throughout the nation.
The problems with rain-fed farming in Ghana, which pose a major threat to the safety of all citizens, may be resolved if every district’s best farmer award winner gets boreholes installed on their farms.
With each best farmer having access to a borehole, two thousand six hundred and ten (2,610) boreholes will be drilled on farmlands in the country within a decade. That will be a good stepping stone for all year-round farming for our smallholder farmers. Crops will be harvested regularly to be sold and that will put money into the pockets of our farmers regularly and food security will be assured. Different approaches may be introduced where drilling of boreholes fail.
One best MMDA farmer, one borehole, one water storage tank, one plastic watering can, and a one-acre farm in each district repeated every year is all that is required to steadily get the country on the road to food sufficiency.
To ensure financial security of these farmers, they could be taken through training sessions on budgeting, book-keeping whiles the government and other entities put in place other measures to help them plan their retirement.
The establishment of an emergency fund, savings and investment avenues will also go a long way to ensure that these farmers while providing the nutritional needs of the country, also live and retire comfortably and well off.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Farmers’ Day program, which was started to honor Ghana’s devoted farmers, is an important and admirable endeavor. However, the government needs to take action to lessen the nation’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture in order to address the urgent problem of food insecurity. District best farmers should be awarded with a borehole at the farmers’ choice of land. This will eventually enrich the farmers and empower them to buy other inputs including the other award items.
About the Author
A preacher and CEO of Joes Coaching Consult. An author and a money management Coach. For any further information, training, or coaching for NGOs, Churches, students, schools, and Women groups, please write to joestechpu@gmail.com.
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