Agric Minister-Designate Outlines Plan to Revamp Ghana’s Agricultural Sector
The incoming Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced the new government’s commitment to revitalizing Ghana’s agricultural sector, focusing on making it more attractive to Ghanaians, particularly the youth.
Speaking during his vetting in Parliament on Monday, January 20, Mr. Opoku stated, “We want to make agriculture attractive to the youth and to everyone in this country.”
As part of the strategy, the government plans to acquire land from landowners, prepare it for agricultural use, and lease it to interested farmers to boost cultivation and food production.
“We intend to acquire the land, prepare it for agricultural purposes, and then hand it over to prospective investors so that we can increase production and drive our nation towards food sufficiency,” he explained.
Mr. Opoku emphasized the importance of engaging landowners to release land for this initiative, which he believes will significantly enhance food production for both domestic and international markets.
The Minister-designate also noted that recruiting more agricultural extension officers would be a priority to address the challenges of farm management, citing the current inadequate ratio of extension officers to farms as a significant bottleneck.
Ghana’s agricultural sector remains a cornerstone of the economy, contributing approximately 20-25% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing a large percentage of the population, particularly in rural areas. The sector plays a crucial role in ensuring food security, reducing poverty, and providing employment opportunities.
However, a key challenge has been the sector’s inability to attract younger generations, many of whom prioritize white-collar jobs over farming.
Mr. Opoku’s proposed initiatives aim to address this challenge by creating a more accessible and supportive environment for agriculture, particularly for young people, to secure the sector’s future growth and sustainability.
