FOOD SECURITY IN GHANA:THE DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFUSION OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES

By

Sylvester Gyamfi

Ghana Statistical Service

Nov. 2006

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Introduction

Right to food , a fundamental human right

Households must have reliable supply of food to maintain good health

Over 800 million people worldwide are food insecure

Ghanaians, no exception though the economy is endowed with numerous natural resources

In effective production techniques, low yielding crop varieties, inadequate supplies of water, etc constraints to the achievement of food security

These factors coupled with bushfires resulted in severe famine in the country 1983

Concerted action became imperative to improve food security in Ghana.

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Action by various Governments

Successive Governments shown interest at improving food security

National Liberation Council (NLC) Government – Operation Feed Yourself (OFY)

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress – Pledged support for the World Food Summit (1996) Plan of Action

--Coordinated efforts at ensuring food security at the individual, household, national, regional and global levels

--Eradicate Poverty to improve accsess to food

-- Ensure Peaceful and Stable Environment, a condition for the attainment of sustainable food security

The ruling government, the New Patriotic Party Government, commissioned a joint FAO/WFP mission to assess food supply situation in Northern Ghana in 2002.

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Activities undertaken to improve food security in Ghana

Realisation to move away from traditional to modernising agriculture through the application of science and technology

Activities concentrated on:

• Increased production of selected food crops

• Production and preservation of fish

• Livestock production

• Prevention and management of crop and animal diseases

Increased production of selected food crops

• Major staple crops selected as starting point Maize Rice Millet Sorghum Cassava

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Activities on selected crops

Ministry of Food and Agriculture link up with research institutions

Research Institutions produce breeder seeds through the application of science and technology

Foundation seeds produced from the breeder seeds through various multiplication projects

Teams of crop protectionists inspect planting materials before they are coppiced for distribution to farmers

Field trips organised for farmers to research-managed demonstration fields as part of technology transfer

Effective use of low cost irrigation techniques (23 Chinese irrigation experts deployed to rehabilitate dams) – ADB/FAO-SPFS

Currently piloting Urine Technology – Urine as liquid manure to fertilize maize, rice, sorghum, plantain, paw paw and other crops on pilot basis

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Results of application of science and technology

New hybrids of major staples developed

Local names given as follows:• Maize Mamaba• Sorghum Kapaala• Cowpea Akpaabala• Soya bean Salintuya

National yield improved considerably under improved technology eg. Cowpea, yield under traditional management practices is 0.3 metric tonnes per hectare whereas yield under improved technology is between 1.8 – 2.0 metric tonnes per

hectare

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Release of improved crop varieties for cultivation

A Committee, The National Varietal Release Committee, announces the release of the improved crop varieties into public domain

Procedures and Processes followed before certification and release

• Fieldtrips to sites/farms

• Measurements taken

• Size of field compared to yield

• Time for maturity

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Prevention and Management of Crop Diseases

Establishment of Seed Testing and Health Laboratories

Healthy and resistant crop varieties cultivated

Farmers trained in simple methods of preventing and controlling diseases

Use of approved chemicals

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Fish Production, Support and Preservation

Improved fishing methods devised

Construction and stocking of fishponds ( Production of fingerlings)

Fieldtrips organized to well established research-managed fish farms as tool for technology transfer

Observation and participatory approaches adopted

Government ‘s support to the fishing industry:

• Supply of pre-mix fuel• Provision of outboard motors and other fishing gear• Construction of fish harbours• Development of the chorkor smoker

A whole ministry, Ministry of Fisheries has been established to see to the development of the fishing industry

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