Farmer's Organisation Network in Ghana (FONG), has appealed to the government to increase its funding in the agricultural sector to create enabling environment for the speedy growth of the sector.
Mr Issahaku Jesiwuni, Vice President of FONG said despite the fact that agriculture employs more than 70 per cent of the country’s workforce and contributes 30 per cent of GDP, investment in the area had been dwindling over the past years making farming less profitable.
He made the appeal in Tamale on Thursday during a day's forum organised by FONG to interact with farmers and the business community to seek appropriate opportunities to expand their trade.
Mr Jesiwuni urged the government to complement increased investment with practical policies that are implementable to the benefit of rural farmers especially those in the north.
Mr Nashiru Sulemana, Field Coordinator of Grameen Ghana, NGO expressed dissatisfaction that global funding towards agriculture had remained stagnant contrary to the expectation of the Food and Agricultural Organisation.
He noted that food production must increase in order to cater for the increasing population growth.
Mr Sulemana said "as the world's population increases, demand for food becomes higher and the quality of eating habits also remains a challenge".
He urged the government to intervene in the difficulties associated with agriculture such as low productivity, poor soil content, poor road network, and poor infrastructure coupled with inadequate agricultural extension officers.
Mr Felix Otchere, Representative of Stegina Investment Limited introduced the farmers to new brands of tractors his outfit had brought into the country and encouraged them to purchase the equipment as a group to improve on their yield.
He said the tractors are of the best quality in the market and interested buyers could contact the organisation through Ministry of Food and Agriculture with negotiable terms of purchase.
FONG is a network of small scale farmers and fisher-based organisation with a vision of uniting and building strong viable network to contribute to food security with particular attention to strengthening women farmers for rural transformation.