Food Minister Warns of Food Insecurity

Major (Rtd) Courage Quarshigah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, yesterday warned that Ghana is likely to face food shortage if measures are not taken to increase crop yield.

He directed that, most of the government's efforts should be directed towards the improvement of the agricultural sector to eradicate hunger and poverty.

Major Quarshigah was speaking at the 21st celebration of the World Food Day under the theme "Fight Hunger to Reduce Poverty" in Accra.

This year's celebration focused on agriculture and increased food production and the need to heighten awareness on how to alleviate hunger and poverty world-wide.

It also aims at encouraging participation of rural people, especially women and the underprivileged in decisions that influence their lives.

He assured that the ministerial initiative of the Accelerated Agriculture Growth and Development Strategy (AAGDS) would be well managed to increase food production. He also mentioned the Agricultural Services Sub-Sector Investment Programme (AgSSIP), a proposal planned by the ministry to and promote post harvest activities to ensure abundant food at the drying season.

Based on the intention of the government to make Ghana the leading agro-processing and industrial country in Africa by 2010, he said the government has decided to expand the production of rice and maize using irrigation.

The Minister also called on Chiefs and assemblymen to intensify the campaign on bush fire.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama called on farmers to adopt the new farming technologies to increases their yield.