Ho, May 7, GNA - The Volta Regional Minister Mr Joseph Amenowode has urged the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) to champion the cause of women in agriculture, because of their crucial role in bringing about national food security and stemming poverty. Speaking at a sensitization forum organized by the Volta Regional chapter of the Coalition, on the government's proposed Youth in Agriculture Project, Mr Amenowode said the Volta Region met all the criteria required for implementing the project and should certainly benefit from it. The forum was a platform for the relevant government agencies to interact with representatives of peasant farmers groups, from the 18 districts in the Region, on the proposed Youth in Agriculture Project. Mr Amenowode said the government's Youth in Agriculture Project sought to train a number of youths in Agri-business, while others would be supported with inputs to cultivate large hectares of maize, rice and sorghum in 70 districts in the country.
Government would also identify suitable land and negotiate with chiefs and landowners to release them for the project, while modern inputs and irrigation facilities would be provided for the youth to undertake dry season farming. He commended the Coalition for its advocacy role on behalf of peasant farmers, especially its plans to build the capacity of women in agriculture and the problems that confront them. Mr Amenowode observed that "the majority of women in agriculture have limited access to land, labour and capital, due to cultural and institutional factors".
They "cannot provide collateral for credit because they may not have legal ownership of tangible assets. "I urge you to undertake advocacy for them to know their position as playing a major role in agriculture and the need for them to be assisted by government and NGOs to be productive to help reduce poverty in the country," Mr Amenowode implored. He commended the Coalition for identifying constraints in the agriculture sector, as well as helping to get the youth interested in the sector. Reverend Alexander Avor, Volta Regional Focal Person of the Coalition urged government not to sign the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) because it would result in the loss of jobs and livelihood of farmers, because they lacked the infrastructure and capacity to compete in the European Union Market.
"We are suggesting to the government to put the necessary infrastructure in place for the youth to engage in full scale agri-business, improve our economy, produce more food for local consumption and exports that would stabilize our cedi and its value in the world market," he said. Reverend Avor said the Coalition comprising of non-governmental organizations and peasant farmers associations in the country, advocates for livelihood for farmers and trade justice in the country. 07 May 2009
