Ghana faces food insecurity challenge

A Manager of Africa Lead, Mrs Cecilia Addae has expressed the need for the country to ensure food security through storage, preservation and processing to eliminate hunger.

She noted that Ghana is faced with the challenge of food insecurity, and this requires government’s effort as well as contribution of stakeholders such as business concerns in the food industry

Mrs Addae, Component Manager responsible for non-state actors made the call in presentation on the topic: “Re-building the African Pot” at a national celebration of 2014 World Rural Women’s Day at Akrofrom in the Techiman North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.

The programme, organized by Farmers Organization Network of Ghana with sponsorship by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), FAO, ECASARD, a farmer-based organization, SEND-Ghana, a non-governmental organization and Africa Lead was attended by more than 1000 smallholder women farmers from all over the country.

On the theme: “Women as Guardians of SEED, LIFE and EARTH,” the event aimed at highlighting the role rural women play in food production, food security and nutrition and rural enterprises.

Mrs Addae said both the government and stakeholders in agriculture must notice the country’s challenge of food insufficiency and insecurity.

Africa Lead is a national project being funded by the USAID under the implementation of Development Alternative Incorporated, a company based in the United States.

Its activities include institutional assessment and capacity building programmes, provision of grants, internship and leadership training as well as logistical support to institutions and running of programmes.

Mr Daniel Adotey Akai, Programme Officer for SEND-Ghana in a panel discussion highlighted challenges like lack of access to financial and other credit facilities faced by smallholder farmers, particularly women.

He gave the assurance that as a policy research and advocacy organization working with smallholder farmers in Ghana, SEND Ghana would continue to ensure that government policies and programmes in agriculture are implemented for the benefit of farmers.