LAND TENURE SYSTEM UNDERMINING AGRIC PRODUCTION-GARDJA URGES GOV'T.

-

As Ghana marks its 34th National Farmers Day to honour her hardworking farmers and fishers, the Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists’ Association, GARDJA, has urged government to develop pragmatic and sustainable policies to address the myriad of challenges undermining agricultural production across the country. 

In a statement jointly signed and issued in Kumasi by the President, Richmond Frimpong and General Secretary, Ernest Kofi Adu, to recognize and appreciate the contribution of farmers to the economy on the occasion of the national farmers day, GARDJA mentioned in particular, difficulties associated with land acquisition and ownership for farming purposes as one bottle-neck that must be tackled head-on. 

According to GARDJA which is a media advocacy group on agric and rural development, the largely customary land holding system does not only undermines agriculture production, but is also a major cause of conflict in the society.

The situation, the statement warns, is being aggravated by the increasing scramble for the limited available lands by private and commercial developers into residential estates. ‘There is no doubt that, Ghana’s land tenure system has inflicted savage repression on agriculture, aside from its generation of conflict’, the statement noted. 

 Another problem identified by GARDJA for government’s intervention, is the cost of, and difficulties in credit facility procurement for investment in the sector which is serving as a major disincentive to particularly the youth and smallholder farmers to expand their holdings. 

The Statement is urging government to come out with a deliberate regulatory policy geared towards attaining single-digit credit facilities and very flexible re-payment terms for agricultural producers to increase their businesses. 

Touching on poultry production, GARDJA recommends that, the state establishes poultry production plants across the country with the aim of increasing the local production level from the current 10 per cent of the national demand of broiler meat to match up the annual poultry import bill. 

The statement commended all farmers and fishers in Ghana for their sustained hardwork just to feed the nation while congratulating the award winners at all levels during this year’s celebration.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

JUTE FACTORY IS BACK

-
Image
the administrative block under rehabilitation At long last, the much talked about defunct GIHOC Fibre manufacturing Company popularly known as the Jute Factory, is to be back in operations very soon.  Ashanti Today can confirm that work is feverishly ongoing towards the revival of the once golden sacks manufacturing company with the first production expected in the first quarter of next year.  It is a public-private partnership with a wholly Ghanaian company, Jute Mills Ghana Limited being the operator and has already sunk about five million Ghana Cedis to revamp the company.  The Jute Factory is located within the industrial area of Kaase.  It has been on divestiture for about 20 years now with successive governments paying lip-service to revamp it.   The old machinery at main factory to be replaced soon  It is one project that is dear to the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who has used almost every opportunity with business people and investors wh
Read more

THE STATE OF KUMASI'S 'INDUSTRIAL AREA

-
The once Industrial enclave of the Ashanti region within the Kumasi metropolis is fast losing its status as the nerve centre of jobs for the people.     This is due to the collapse of most of the companies in quick succession in  the last few years for various reasons. Background Industrialization was a key component of the first wholly indigenous government of Ghana led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The Ashanti region was not left out in this drive which was meant to create decent jobs for the residents, particularly the youth.  Asokwa, Ahinsan, Kaase, Atonsu and Kyirapatre were the communities that became what is known as the ‘Industrial Area’ of Ashanti from the early 60s.  The christening of this enclave as the ‘Industrial Area’ was the people’s appreciation of the numerous state and privately owned companies that were sited there.  These communities fall within present day Asokwa Constituency which is in the western part of the metropolis from the Accra d
Read more

KWAMANG SHS NEEDS URGENT HELP

-
Image
New Campus of the Kwamang Presby SHS The Kwamang Presby Senior High/Technical School in the Sekyere Central district of Ashanti needs an urgent external intervention to address some of its pressing basic needs to function very well.  A visit by Ashanti Today to the school’s premises revealed that the school does not have an administrative block to administer affairs of the school for which reason the Headmistress, the Bursar and another staff are sharing one room which has been partitioned, while the Assistant Headmaster, the rest of the Accounts staff among other administrative officers are also working from an improvised classroom. Anybody who visits the Kwamang Presby Senior High Technical school for the first time will unavoidably take it for a basic school.  This is more so when it appears to be perching on the premises of the local Junior High School as its old site.  The school is wallowing in a myriad of challenges that are seriously militating against
Read more