Eric Opoku paying homage to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has urged the government to implement policies that will make agriculture attractive and appealing to the youth.
He openly expressed gross concern over the aged dominating the agricultural sector, stressing the need for the youth, who are strong, to venture into the important sector.
The Asantehene delivered the address when Eric Opoku, the Minister of Agriculture, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, the capital of the Ashanti Region.
The Asantehene stated, “If we are able to make agriculture more attractive to the youth, the country will then be in a better position to increase its food production and reduce its reliance on food imports”.
The Asantehene stated emphatically that he would willingly release lands in his Kingdom for farming activities, as part of efforts to help boost food production and security.
He also tasked the government to pay attention to irrigation so that farmers can easily get access to water to farm regardless of the weather condition.
Otumfuo said the government should do everything possible to reduce the high rate of importation of food since that has the tendency of adversely affecting the economy.
The Asantehene also admonished Mr. Opoku to work assiduously in order to ensure that Ghana becomes the food basket for the sub-region.
Mr. Opoku, on his part, announced that the Ministry of Agriculture has instituted a new award scheme for the best farming schools in this year’s Farmers Day celebration.
This new initiative, he said, forms part of plans by the government to encourage basic, senior high, and tertiary schools to practice school gardens to boost food production.
“My ministry is not leaving out schools in the Feed Ghana policy; hence, the award scheme to whip up students’ interest in contributing to the policy’s success”, Mr. Opoku stated.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Kumasi