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Proper weather forecasting can boost
food productivity-Agric. Director
Accra, Jan. 28, Ghanadot/GNA- Dr. Kwame Amezah, Head,
Directorate of Agric Extension Services has called on the
government to put in place the appropriate measures to
ensure that proper weather forecasting was provided for
farmers to help boost food productivity and achieve food
security goals.
"There is strong indication that being able to predict the
weather properly, will help our Agriculture Extension
Officers to make informed decisions about food production
which would help farmers minimize losses and also know when
to plant, fertilize and spray their crops", he said.
Addressing farmers and Agriculture Extension Agents on
Tuesday on the importance of forecasting to farming, Dr.
Kwame Amezah noted that in addition to extension officers,
districts should also help to train their farmers and
opinion leaders to disseminate information on healthy
farming practices.
Dr. Amezah further called for steps to be taken to increase
the coverage of the climate forecast initiative nationwide
to cover most crops, livestock, fisheries, fruits and
vegetable production.
Ms. Maria Helena Semedo, Country Representative of Food and
Agricultural Organization said the introduction of water
technology would increase the capability of farmers in water
deficit areas to manage effectively water from rainfall for
agricultural purposes.
"This will in turn enable the farmers to plan more
effectively and quicken the pace to commercialize their
enterprises thus fulfilling the objectives of the Food and
Agriculture Sector Development Policy," she added.
She expressed her satisfaction with the initiative and
appealed to government to extend it to other parts of the
country aside the three northern regions and pledged the
support of the FAO towards the initiative.
Mr. Emmanuel Eledi, Upper West Regional Director of Agric
called for the introduction of other advanced system of
farming to cover the whole country and also protect the seas
and ports with instant data on the weather.
"There should also be more training, quality demonstration
and adequate logistics for supply and research into the
projects which will enhance farming in the country", he
added.
GNA
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