‘Don’t depend on gov’t’

USAID’s Agriculture Policy Support Project (APSP), has urged farmers to desist from depending on government for support to manage their farms.

According to him, government has a lot of responsibilities and therefore cannot meet all the needs of farmers across the country.

Mr Rodriguez, who was speaking in an interview with BUSINESS GUIDE at a forum in Accra, said government might provide assistance but the onus lies on the farmer to find ways of soliciting funds to manage his farm.

The agric expert admitted that farm inputs such as insecticides and fertilizers were expensive.

Mr. Rodriguez said the right policies must be put in place in Ghana to unleash the potential in the agriculture sector, adding “with right policy research, advocacy, and implementation and formation, Ghana can become enabling environment conducive for private sector investments.”

He called for more investment in the agric sector.

Mr. Rodriguez said one of the key constraints to investment in agriculture in Ghana is the inability to effectively identify and implement policy reforms that improve the enabling environment.

He said policymakers need to effectively use existing data, and generate more data and information to support appropriate and effective policy analysis, decision-making and planning.

Mr Rodriguez explained that the USAID’s Agriculture Policy Support Project intends to improve food security and create an enabling environment for private sector investment in agriculture.

The project focuses on improving capacity for evidence-based, policy formation, implementation, research and advocacy, working with the government of Ghana, the private sector and civil society organizations.

The implementing partners of the project are Chemonics International Inc., Iowa State University, Center for Policy Analysis, and GIMPA.

The project, which started in December 2013, is expected to be completed in September.