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Poverty still a problem in rural areas - Debrah
Accra, Oct. 30, Ghanadot/GNA
– Mr. Ernest Debrah, Minister
of Food and Agriculture, on Thursday said though human
resource development and capacity building programme had led
to increased food supplies and crop yields, poverty still
remained a major problem among rural population.
He said the challenge was for stakeholders to develop
strategies that more clearly addressed the needs of the poor
and ensured that they benefited.
Mr. Debrah said this at the launch of the first Edikanfo
Progressive Foundation/Communicating America Education
Programme (EPF/CAEP) National Agriculture Human Resource
Development and Exchange Programme, a collaborative
programme between the ministry and Edikanfo Foundations, an
NGO to expose Ghanaian farmers to international best
practices.
He said the poverty reduction strategy recognized
agriculture as a sector with the greatest potential to
reduce poverty.
"We recognise the fact that poverty reduction will only be
achieved through appropriate actions - a combination of
activities to increase production and productivity.”
Mr Debrah said the youth in modern agriculture programme was
also to provide gainful employment for the unemployed and
underemployed particularly those in the rural areas.
He noted other challenges facing the sector as finance and
mechanisation. "My ministry is pursuing vigorous policies to
enhance farmers’ access to timely mechanised services.”
Mr Debrah urged young farmers, agriculture students and
ministry to take advantage of the opportunities that the
programme offered to develop themselves.
Mr Patrick Kwabena Arthur, Coordinator, EPF said developing
effective strategies to unlock the potential of Ghanaian
agriculture was crucial to achieve the country's growth and
poverty reduction goals.
He said the foundation had supported development
interventions through advocacy, education and training,
among others.
Mr Arthur said the exchange programme would offer Ghanaian
farmers valuable experience in specified areas, improve
communication skills to ensure personal growth and
development.
GNA
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