Irrigation Is Key For Increased Food Production – Minister

The provision of irrigation facilities and mechanized centres across the country will significantly increase food production, deputy Minister designate for Food and Agriculture, Kennedy Nyarko Osei has stated.

He indicated that easy access to capital, improved seedling distribution, and ready market for farm produce, among other incentives such as tractor services, will attract the youth to venture into agriculture to help government realize its Planting for Foods and Jobs initiative.

The deputy Minister designate disclosed this when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament yesterday.

Hon. Osei, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru Constituency, told the committee he would use his vast marketing experience to fix the disconnect between Agriculture and Industry.

He noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s One District, One Factory policy, as well as the one district, one warehouse initiative, would enhance industrial growth and processing of farm produce, and also give premium to agro-businesses in Ghana.

According to him, it is important to invest in the nation’s buffer sector to ensure that farmers do not suffer post-harvest losses anymore.

The nominee denied recent media reports that he said the fall armyworm invasion has been completely defeated by government, saying ‘’I was misquoted by the media’’.

He explained that the armyworm issue has become a global threat, and hence the needed for concerted effort to fight it globally.

On the issue of the reverse of the Cocoa sub-sector to the Food and Agriculture Ministry, he said he would collaborate with the sector Minister for proper and lawful steps to be taken to regularize it.

Hon. Kennedy Nyarko Osei’s appointment follows the resignation of his predecessor, William Quaitoo.

Source: Christian Kpesese/ thePublisher