Develop positive attitude towards agriculture -Minister

Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 28, GNA - Mr. Ernest Akubuor Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) on Friday called for an urgent attitudinal change among Ghanaians towards agriculture production to help move the country forward.

Mr. Debrah noted with concern that, "If we do not change our attitudes, the development of the country will continue to stifle upon all the adequate resources we are bless with." He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Ghana National Agricultural Technical Class Association (GNATCA) on the theme: "The Agriculturist in Agric-Business, the way forward," in Sunyani. The Minister expressed concern about the attitudes of Ghanaians who "talk big" without implementing their concept, which, he added, undermined national development "We as Ghanaians should ensure to make the country a better place for our children."

Mr. Debrah explained that the economy of the country depended deeply on agriculture and stressed the need to modernize agriculture to achieve the needed targets.

He hinted that government was putting in structures to give incentives to MOFA staff in rural areas.

He asked MOFA workers to be proud of the sector and "blow their trumpets" to gain enough recognition in the country.

A communiqu=E9 issued by the Association and signed by Mr. Emmanuel Fritz Kuwornu, GNATCA president stressed the need for government to draw policies that would increase agricultural production in the country. It expressed concern about low production of staples and export crops calling for a policy to fund agriculturists in the Ministry and other unemployed agriculture experts to venture into practical agriculture and related activities.

The communiqu=E9 appealed to MOFA to introduce rural and risk allowances to its members to enable them to put in their maximum. He said agriculture must be given the needed attention by intensive research development of improved policies and packages and implementation of several recommendations to promote productivity.

This, according to him, would create jobs for the youth and increase the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The President said the GNATCA would collaborate with the government to encourage agriculture experts serving in MOFA and others to form cooperatives.

He appealed to staff of MOFA to eschew lackadaisical attitude to work, remain loyal and live up to expectation to promote higher productivity.