Campaign to promote quality maize launched

The Government would do everything possible to eliminate all bottlenecks that impede the growth of agricultural production.

Dr Majeed Haroun, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture (MOA), said on Tuesday in Accra at the launching of campaign to promote good quality maize for better health.

The campaign, aimed at creating an awareness of the dangers of eating contaminated grains is currently being held in Togo and Benin where maize is highly consumed, and would be extended to other West African countries.

It is under the joint initiative of Rotary Club International, MOH, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), Food Research Institute and Ghana Standards Board (GSB)

Dr Haroun said research indicate that most of the maize consumed is of poor quality as a result of poor handling and storage practices that lead to pests, diseases and moulds.

He said "although we process maize before consuming, some of the toxins are resistant to cooking, heating, boiling and frying. The threat posed by consuming poor quality maize cannot be overlooked.

"It is therefore imperative to pragmatically, address the problem of poor quality maize and its associated health issues, and this will however require the concerted efforts of farmers, traders, consumers and researchers."

He called on farmers to play a leading role in this campaign since they are the first people to handle the maize at the farm level.