ROLE OF AGRICULTURE IN ECONOMIC GROWTH

The importance of Agriculture is immense in economic growth with its increasing potential. Agriculture is food, food is survival and the vision for Agriculture is gradually shifting from small scale to- commercially sound- to – Agribusiness.

Agriculture has been one of the major sectors contributing to national GDP with lots of farm produce being sold both on the local and the international market. But in recent time that has not been the case, Agric GDP is said to be going down due to various challenges being confronted by the sector.

The major challenge facing this viable sector is Post Harvest Losses, there are other barriers to progress such as technology, market, access to credit facilities, attitude and mindset towards agriculture just to mention a few.

Post Harvest Losses account for a larger portion of why agriculture GDP has fallen. Most farmers do not have access to basic inputs and knowledge to handle most of their farm produce after harvesting.  Some are faced with the challenge of storage and transportation of farm produce from their farms to the market and to the final consumer. It is said that about 60% of yam produce does not make it to the final consumer as a result of improper post harvest activities.

One major way of handling post harvest losses is by linking Agriculture and manufacturing. If these two sectors are managed holistically, it will eventually lead to an economic boost. In manufacturing, value addition is key, also the need for production values in order to reduce post harvest losses, availability of quality raw materials, processing equipments and processing sector chain flow to consumer level will help reduce post harvest losses.

Manufacturing can open channels to diversification, increase exportation, productivity gains, technological advancement and human well being in general.

Moving on to other barriers of progress,  Agriculture has lost its productive edge as a result of farmers doing things the traditional way instead of doing things that really matter and will lead to innovation. Agriculture needs to be smart thus a need for the introduction of value chain systems, and with the help of technology this can be achieved. The use of simple tech and apps could go a long way to improve our farming practices and also create value. The council of scientific and industrial research CSIR has developed quite a number of technologies and researches which needs to be taken up to aid our agricultural sector.

Agriculture is also important to the financial sector and even though the credit state of the nation may not be that favorable, farmers and Agri-businessmen should be giving special preference. Farmers need to access loans and credit facilities on time in order to produce on time.

The issue of available market arises when farmers harvest and have no where or no means to sell their farm produce. With the manufacturing sector and processing units coming onboard, various channels and avenue will be created, where these processing units or companies can acquire large quantity of raw materials for their finished products. The Government agencies in charge of the school feeding program and other food related projects can also patronize these farm produce. Also the need for sensitization of consuming more of our local produce and  government intervention on importation of certain produce that we have already on the local market could create more market avenues and value for these farmers and in the long run lead to economic growth.

Stakeholders may do their part to ensure that there are markets available but also farmers should make it a point that what they produce are worthy of such markets right from seeds and eggs to the final produce. It is a two affair and it should be taken serious.

Mindset of Ghanaians towards agriculture is not that encouraging, some people presume that farmers are poor and that farming has no potential for wealth creation. If that not being the case why would most of these street hawkers run from the hinterlands where we have good soil for farming with the mindset of seeking greener pastures in capital cities?

It is about time the youth of this country develop an AGROMINDSET, young people should be encouraged to go into farming, and if this initiative becomes successful, it will create employment, get people off the street and reduce poverty.

We are victims of our own success, if there is a complete integration of Agriculture, manufacturing technology credit, market fueled by a change of mindset and attitude, certainly there will be an increase in productivity which will eventually lead to an ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION.

P.E LOCAL

MICHAEL BAIDOO ESSAH.