Modernise agric for poor smallholder farmers- Minister

Koforidua, June 12, GNA- The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, has observed that, the country would not be able achieve its planned economic growth and poverty reduction, without significant improvement in the agricultural sector.

He has therefore called for policies on the modernisation of agriculture to target the poor smallholder farmers who form the bulk of the major players in the agriculture sub-sector.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf at the opening of a regional consultative workshop organized by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to review the draft document of the Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP), at Koforidua, on Monday. Participants at the workshop were drawn form the MOFA, Ministry of Fisheries, Regional and District Coordinating Councils in the region, representatives of Farm Based Agriculture Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO's).

Mr Barimah expressed the hoped that, the participant would come out with alternate views to help review the FASDEP document to benefit the poor.

An Assistant Director of MOFA, Mrs Lena Otoo, explained that FASDEP was first formulated in 2002, but a social impact analysis of the document later indicated that, it could not achieve the desired impact on poverty for various reasons.

She explained that, FASDEP was therefore being reviewed to ensure that the document conforms to the national development objectives as specified in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II, (GPRS II). The GRRS II is aimed at achieving accelerated and sustainable-shared poverty reduction, gender equity, protection and empowerment of the vulnerable. 12 June 07