Kpone-Ghana, Dec. 6, MNN – Mr. Samuel Okoe Amanquah, Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Chief Executive in an interview that real estate developers are moving at a faster rate, and have taken over all viable land for the cultivation of food crops, “that is the biggest challenge and threat”.
He again stated that the Assembly was thinking about mechanization to help improve farming in the communities and that the Assembly has put measures in place to bring machines to some farmers to help them in their daily duties and mechanization is also a way forward to the country’s development.
“Ghana should currently grow enough food to feed ourselves and also export some. And with the current situation if steps are not taken to address them, it will defeat Ghana’s aim of industrialization,” he said.
Mr. Amanquah stated at Kpone during the Municipal celebration of the 38th National Farmers Day, which is on the theme: “Accelerating Agricultural Development through Value Addition”.
Madam Adams Ayi, the Kpone Municipal Agriculture Director also affirmed that land acquisition in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality is currently serving as a major obstacle to farming activities in the area.
She noted real estate developers have taken the majority of the lands in the municipality for building houses which are now becoming a major challenge and threat to food security, “farmlands are being converted into residential and commercial establishments”.
Madam Ayi said the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality currently has no available land for farming purposes and it is one of the issues farmers faced, “due to this challenge, farmers reduce the acreage they produce from which is affecting crop yields while others get frustrated and quit farming”.
She noted that people with an interest in farming are confronted with huge challenges acquiring land for crop farming, animal rearing, and other agricultural activities as land owners are interested in selling to real estate developers instead of to potential farmers.
Madam Ayi noted that because of the challenges, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Agricultural Department has rolled out a sensitization programme to encourage the farmers to acquire their lands and also promote home gardening to continue crop production in the municipality.
“We must all work together to find a solution to the looming threat, as we may end up developing all the land and get home with no food to eat or we have to buy food at an expensive price,” she noted.
The Municipal Agriculture Director said the municipal agricultural directorate has intensified public education to encourage farmers, especially poultry farmers to take sanitation issues including rules, and regulations regarding production as that will help reduce bird fluid in the municipality.
