Mrs. Sherry Ayittey, the Minister of Science, Environment and Technology, has said Ghana could only achieve its targets for food sufficiency and ensure food security when its soils are properly managed.
The Minister said this during the celebration of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought held in Balungu on Thursday.
She said soil covers had been of great assistance to agriculture and yet it was being destroyed by human activities in most communities.
Mrs Ayittey appealed to farmers to adopt sustainable soil management by using modern and friendly practices such as cover cropping, forestation and good tillage practices.
"Our failure as farmers to practice this would result in soil leaching, erosion and eventually reduce soil fertility and agriculture productivity."
She said mining companies and other organizations that turn the soil during their operations should be encouraged to have soil management plans so that the soil could be enhanced.
Ms. Ayittey said the government was making efforts to reverse desertification and its negative socio-economic impact.
One of such initiative is the implementation of the Ghana Environmental Management Project (GEMP) which enjoins the nation to come out with National Action Plan (NAP) to combat drought and desertification in the three northern regions.
The Ministry would also launch a nationwide tree planting programmes on July 24 aimed at encouraging school children to cultivate the habit of planting trees.
She said as part of the centenary celebration of Dr Kwame Nkrumah special species of trees would be planted nationwide and strict by-laws put in place to protect them all directed towards combating desertification and drought.
Ms Ayittey said the Ministry, through Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), would from next year award institutions including district
assemblies, non-governmental organizations, traditional authorities, communities and schools that engage in desertification prevention practices.
She appealed to district assemblies, traditional authorities, communities and civil society organizations to support the national
initiative adopted by Government aimed at combating desertification and droughts in the three northern regions.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, said the major causes of desertification in the area were through human activities
including indiscriminate bush burning, charcoal burning, activities of hunters and honey trappers.