Farmers' Day: Ghana must move into commercial farming – Prosper Bani

Prosper Bani, an expert on Crisis Prevention, Management and Recovery has called for a paradigm shift within Ghana’s agriculture sector.

According to Mr. Bani the time is right for the nation to move away from subsistence farming into commercial farming which will go a long way to boost Ghana’s food basket.

Speaking ahead of the 33rd farmers day celebration which came off today in Kumasi in an interview with Ghanacrusader.com/ Citizenghana.com, the onetime Chief of Staff to former President Mahama added that massive investment is needed beyond newspaper reportage or lip services.

Agriculture is a massive economic sector . We cannot continue to depend on subsistence farming, we need to begin to invest in commercial farming. And to invest in commercial farming is not just by newspaper report, b pronouncement in front of a microphone or b dancing at farmers da rally. It has to be properly and scientifically plan.

Mr. Bani however bemoaned the cumbersome nature of acquiring land for commercial farming. This he considered as a major hindrance to commercial farming.

In this country, land ownership is still an issue. We need to resolve land problems where farmers commercial farming can go beyond ten acres to to one thousand acres. But if you went out today to acquire a land for farming you will realize that you will have to negotiate with ten different family landowners to get one hundred thousand acres. Which is very challenging.a

The 33rd National Farmers Day celebration came off today December 1 in Kumasi with one Philip Kweku Agyemang of Dormaa West in the Brong Ahafo Region being adjudged national best farmer for 2017.

It was under the theme "Farming for Food and Jobs"

The day is set aside by the government to honour farmers and fishers who provide food for the nation, raw materials for industries and also earn foreign exchange for the country.