The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation be­tween Ghana and the FAO in key areas of agricultural development and underscored the country’s strategic push for agricultural transformation through innova­tion, value addition, and stronger international partnerships.

Mr Opoku outlined Ghana’s commitment to adding value to cash crops such as cocoa, cashew, and shea, as part of a broader strategy to boost exports, create jobs, and enhance farmer incomes.

He also highlighted govern­ment’s efforts to establish Farmer Service Centres and to improve the deployment and capacity of agricultural extension officers, en­suring that farmers receive timely and effective technical support.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in achieving sustain­able agricultural growth and food security.

On food production, the min­ister expressed the government’s intention to increase tomato cul­tivation and called for enhanced research into underutilised crops such as cassava, which play a cru­cial role in Ghana’s food systems.

Mr Eric Opoku also appealed for increased investment in irrigation infrastructure to ensure year-round agricultural production across the country.

He lauded the FAO for sup­porting the rehabilitation and upgrading of the soil testing laboratory in Kumasi to interna­tional standards, describing it as a “critical facility for improving soil health and boosting crop produc­tivity”.

Buy vitamins and supplements

The minister further request­ed continued collaboration with the FAO to provide cold storage facilities for yam and other per­ishable crops to reduce post-har­vest losses and advocated for the appointment of more qualified Ghanaians to senior leadership positions within the FAO.

In response to the minister’s requests, Dr Dongyu pledged the FAO’s continuous support for Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The FAO, Dr Dongyu said, sees Ghana as a critical partner for food security in the West Africa subregion.

Dr Dongyu assured Ghana of the organisation’s readiness to assist in addressing post-harvest losses, mechanising boreholes for irrigation, and supporting innova­tion-driven solutions to improve productivity.

He also directed the FAO Regional Representative for Af­rica, Dr Abebe Haile-Gabriel, to initiate the necessary processes for the implementation of irrigation infrastructure, value addition ini­tiatives, and other critical services to enhance food production in Ghana.