Dr Kanayo Felix Nwanze, President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), on Monday urged Ghanaians to consider farming as a dignified profession responsible for
transforming the economy.
He noted that many people saw farming as the pre-occupation of the poor in rural areas however, 80 per cent of food produced in the country was from these poor farmers.
"I am yet to meet a farmer who would give me his or her business card with a proudly designated title 'farmer' a profession that feeds the nation," Dr Nwanze said.
Dr Nwanze made the call during a courtesy call on Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, Regional Directors of Agriculture and
Agricultural Project Coordinators in Accra.
He is leading a five-man delegation from IFAD on a four-day visit to Ghana to assess the impact of IFAD sponsored programmes and share ideas with their Ghanaian counterparts.
Dr Nwanze said it was necessary that government made rural economy attractive and ensure that farmers had access to the market.
"Market for local farmers do not need to be in Europe or America, what is needed is infrastructure, access to rural financing and investment in non farming activities in the rural areas to ensure that farming or agriculture
transforms Ghana's economy," he emphasised.
Dr Nwanze reminded government to make farming attractive to the youth since most of the farmers in the rural areas were old.
While congratulating Ghana on the oil find, he cautioned that government must ensure that resources and earnings from the oil would not
blind the country on the potentials of agriculture and its contribution to the economy.
Mr Ahwoi reiterated that Ghana's economy was driven by peasant farmers but expressed concerns that peasant agriculture had not taken the country
where it ought to be after 53 years.
He agreed that there was the need to re-focus attention on how to improve farming to make it a business to help improve the quality of life of rural folks.
Mr Ahwoi expressing government's commitment to make agriculture development a priority; said it was important that Ghana accelerated the
process of modernising agriculture and called for more resources from IFAD and other development partner to enable government to achieve its vision.
Mr Mohamed Beavogui, Director in-charge of Western and Central African Division of IFAD, while commending Ghana for the progress made in
agricultural development; called for more interaction between agricultural officials, policy makers and the farmer-based organisations.
IFAD is a resource based organisation committed to reducing poverty in rural areas in developing countries.
Some IFAD sponsored programmes in Ghana include the Rural Enterprise Project that seeks to create wealth by creating enterprises in rural areas and Roots and Tubers Improvement and Marketing Programme that promotes the growth and sale of roots and tubers such as cassava and yam.
The rest are Northern Regional Poverty Reduction Programme which focuses on the Northern Region of Ghana, Northern Rural and Growth Programme as well as the Rural Agricultural Finance Programme that seeks to fund farmer-based organisations in rural areas.