Mr Edward Kareweh, the Director of Publicity, Centre for Development Research and Agro Innovation, an agro think tank, says the incoming government must thoroughly assess the agricultural sector and implement targeted strategies to boost productivity.
“Agriculture remains a cornerstone of the nation’s economy yet it faces significant challenges that demands immediate attention to guide decision-making and address existing gaps,” he said.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Kareweh said the first step in addressing the sector’s challenges was to take stock of available resources to provide the data needed to make informed decisions.
The policy interventions should be based on verified data and tailored to the unique needs of each region to maximise the potential of the diverse agricultural zones.
He encouraged the incoming government to be abreast of the challenges and opportunities within the sector to ensure effective development strategies, as it would be impossible to create sustainable policies without accurate data.
The government should clearly state what it wanted to use agriculture for, whether it would be made the foundation for economic transformation or to create jobs for the people.
“This will inform how we are going to approach the agricultural sector and the relevant policies we need,” Mr Kareweh said.
He called for the assessment of the current agriculture policies, especially the flagship programmes, to boost people’s confidence in those projects.
By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah, GNA
