There will be no food shortages in Ghana, says agric ministry

Over the past weeks, pressure has been mounting on the government to as a matter of urgency address the rising cost of food products as it impacts the less privileged.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has said it is optimistic there will be no food shortage in Ghana as a result of the planting for food and jobs programme.

Over the past weeks, pressure has been mounting on the government to as a matter of urgency address the rising cost of food products as it impacts the less privileged, especially women and children.

Speaking to Asaase News, the spokesperson of the ministry Bagbara Tanko said his outfit is determined to increase food production as a way of addressing the situation.

“For us as a ministry, our focus is to increase yields because if we don’t produce we are not going to have food to eat, meaning we are going to import.

“That is why even if you look at poultry and poultry products, efforts are being made to see how we can reduce import. If you look at rice a lot is being done to promote the local rice industry so that we can cut down the import of rice. So, our main focus on planting for food and jobs is going all out this season, the rains are good and we are hoping that we are going to have some good yields.” Tanko said.

Backyard garden policy

Meanwhile, Kwame Jantuah, a private legal practitioner, has suggested that the government reintroduce the “Operation Feed Yourself” programme to help alleviate the plight of Ghanaians.

Operation Feed Yourself was an agricultural scheme, launched in Ghana in 1972 under the military general and then head of state, Ignatius Kutu Acheampong.

The national programme sought to increase production of food crops, with the aim of making Ghana self-sufficient in food.

“I think one of the things we have not done successfully is to conscientise our population to start having backyard gardens, if for nothing at all,” Jantuah said on Asaase Radio’s current affairs and news analysis show The Forum on Saturday (18 June 2022).

“Do you know the impact of Operation Feed Yourself in this country? It depends on the approach . . . this is a critical time,” he told the sit-in host of The Forum, Benjamin Offei-Addo.