Dr. Owusu Afriyi Akoto
GHANA IMPROVED its food security ranking on the global scene tremendously in 2019.
From the 79th position on the Global Food Security Index in 2018, Ghana’s food security improved to the 59th position in 2019.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, made this known at the Information Ministry’s meet-the-press series on Tuesday in Accra.
He said the year-on-year food inflation decreased from 9.7 in 2016 to 7.2 in 2019, with a positive impact on overall inflation.
The global food security index considers affordability, availability and quality of food across 113 countries.
“Ghana placed 3rd in the sub-Saharan region after South Africa and Botswana,” he stated.
Commenting on the impact of food production on wholesale market prices, the minister said overall food prices declined significantly in 2019.
Implications For Consumers
He added that lower prices would imply increased disposable incomes for consumers.
He noted that there was reduced food inflation.
According to him, food inflation reduced from 9.7% in 2018 to 7.2% in December 2019.
Interventions
The minister spoke about several interventions the government was undertaking to improve the agric sector.
According to him, since independence to 2016, only 11,775 hectares of land had been developed for irrigation.
“1,233 hectares of irrigated land have been added between 2017 and 2019 through construction of new facilities,” he said.
By 2020, 2,783 hectares, he reported, would be added to the irrigable area, representing an increase of 32% from 2016.
The minister also mentioned a number of warehouses that had been constructed and the efforts being to promote agriculture mechanization in the country.
BY Melvin Tarlue