By Rita Naa Ayeley Armah
Mr. Eric Opoku, the Minister-designate for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture highlighted the potential involvement of religious organizations, stating that churches and Muslim entities such as the SDA, the Saviour Church, Pentecost, and others that are already engaged in significant farming activities, should be encouraged to invest in agricultural projects.
In a session with the Appointments Committee, he announced a new plan aimed at helping Ghanaians grow their own food and make the country self-sufficient through home gardens and institutional farming in schools.
Mr. Opoku responded to queries from member Frank Annoh-Dompreh regarding practical measures to implement the Agribusiness Initiative. He stated, “First and foremost, we’re going to launch a program arching to Acheampong’s Operation Feed Yourself, where every Ghanaian will be encouraged to own a home garden.” This plan aims to help Ghanaians to utilize the country’s rich soil to produce essential vegetables for their households.
Mr. Opoku further spoke about the idea of institutional farming, proposing that every secondary school in Ghana should have its own farm. He mentioned that the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would work together to hire laborers to help these school farms. He explained that this approach would not only reduce the costs associated with school feeding programs but also enhance both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the food provided to students.
“Nature has blessed us with a land that is capable of giving us the food that we can eat and even export, so we have to take advantage of that,” he concluded, showing his commitment to using Ghana’s agricultural potential for the country’s benefit.
Mr. Eric Opoku’s proposed plan aims to promote home gardening among Ghanaians and establish school farms across the country. By collaborating with educational institutions and engaging religious organizations in agricultural efforts, the Minister-designate seeks to enhance food security and reduce costs associated with school feeding programs while increasing the country’s agricultural resources.
