Prioritize agriculture just like other development agenda - Minister

MMDA’s in the Northern Region have been called upon to give more priority to agriculture and not only focus on social amenities like schools and clinic.

This call was made by the Northern Regional Minister Hon. Salifu Saeed in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of the 8th National Food and Agric Show which took place at the Regional Coordinating Council in Tamale recently.

The show is said to take place at the Tamale Sports Stadium from the 26th to the 30th of September 2017 and is expected to host participants from all the ten regions of the country.

According to the Regional Minister, the hosting of the program in the Northern Region would be an opportunity for the dwellers of the region to showcase the great potential the region has as an agric zone.

Because of this reason, there will be an opportunity for all the districts to exhibit agric products from their districts.

He however noted that, there will be a district dialogue where 10 out of the 26 districts in the region will discuss ways to improve agriculture in their districts.

Hon. Salifu Saeed added that the show will help attract attention to the numerous agricultural opportunities available in the region and also help generate the needed interest in the occupation.

Notwithstanding, the managing director for Yara Ghana limited, partners of the program, Danquah Addo-Yobo reiterated that the northern regions of Ghana is the bread basket of the country’s food production, especially cereal crops.

It is therefore an irony that the northern regions appear to be the least developed regions in the country. With agriculture being the main occupation of the people of the northern regions there is an opportunity to transform the regions by developing agriculture further. “Agriculture must be made profitable for the people of the North”.

Mr. Danquah further explained that, for the youth to go into agriculture, it must be made profitable. He said it all starts with farmer profitability, which can be attained by enhanced productivity of the farmer.

To achieve this, the farmer needs to get the right inputs at the right time with the right technical support.

He added that it is in this direction that the Yara Crop Nutrition Solutions, which focuses on targeted fertilizer for targeted crops will ensure that farmers make the best yield to enhance their profitability.

Meanwhile this year’s National Food and Agric Show is under the theme, “Creating Jobs in Agriculture-Northern Region in Focus”.