By: Jeremiah Nutsugah
The Managing Director of GCGL, Ato Afful has emphasized the crucial need for education on improved farming methods, efficient harvesting, and better transportation and storage solutions.
Speaking at the Technical stakeholders breakfast meeting, on August 7,2024 at Labadi Beach hotel, he addressed the event themed “Transforming Agriculture Productivity in Ghana: Enhancing Incomes of Smallholder Farmers through Reduction in Post-Harvest Losses.”
The meeting aimed to leverage the energy and commitment of Ghanaian youth as a gender-inclusive and climate-friendly force to tackle the country’s deep-rooted post-harvest challenges and promote food and nutrition security, especially in rural and marginalized communities.
Ato Afful stressed that the desired transformation must stem from education on improved farming methods and practices, efficient harvesting, adequate transportation channels, and effective storage facilities. He also highlighted the importance of adding value through processing, packaging, distribution, and marketing to ensure optimal value for producers in the entire agro-food chain.
Mr. Afful emphasized the vital role of public-private partnerships in addressing national issues and enhancing agricultural productivity. While improving yields per acreage is important, he noted that reducing post-harvest losses is equally crucial to ensure that investments in agriculture translate into real benefits for smallholder farmers.
“If we fail to address this challenge, high investments in scaling up agricultural production and large mechanized farms will not guarantee self-sufficiency and security in agriculture,” he warned.
Ato Afful expressed confidence in Ghana’s policymakers and technical experts, urging them to develop clear plans and execute them effectively to progress the agenda of transforming agriculture in the country.
He thanked the WFP, MOFA, and the MasterCard Foundation for their support and collaboration, reaffirming GCGL’s commitment to promoting national growth and development through developmental journalism.
