The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah has said that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic did not adversely affect food production and supply in the region.
The Regional Minister pointed out that food processing alone employed Gari markers, bakers, palm oil and kernel processors among others.
He noted that lessons of COVID-19 had created a new sense of awareness about ensuring food security at home rather than dependence on food imports and added that there was evidence that local staples are rich in nutrients which support the development of the immune system.
“The panic that accompanied the pandemic at its onset was a great test for the resilience of Ghana’s Agriculture sector in terms of food availability, but thankfully we were apt in response to the virus due to the Agriculture interventions put in place by the government”, he stated.
Mr Darko-Mensah made the statement when he took his turn at the ‘Western Region Day” at the 36th Farmers Day celebration held at Techiman in the Bono-East Region.
It was on the theme: “Ensuring Agriculture development under COVID-19 Opportunities and Challenges”.
He indicated that Agriculture played a critical role in economic growth, food security, poverty reduction and rural development through industrialization since it is the main source of income for around 2.5 billion people in the developing world.
According to him, the Western Region has a conducive environment for farming, making it the leading producer of rubber, cocoa, coconut and second in oil palm production in the country.
Mr Darko-Mensah argued that Agriculture undoubtedly was a way of life for people of the Western Region even with the discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities, agriculture still employed the majority of the population.
He therefore commended the Government for boosting agriculture production and productivity through the introduction of pro-agriculture initiatives.
He also commended the Government, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the awardees and stakeholders for the hard work, which has helped to sustain the nation’s economy over the years.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
