Accra: The Chief Executive Officer of Debbies Products Limited and Sector Chair for Cosmetics at the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Moses Atobrah, has urged the government to invest in irrigation and agricultural storage infrastructure to support year-round farming and reduce Ghana's dependence on food imports. According to him, the country's continued reliance on rain-fed agriculture remains a major challenge to agricultural production and industrial growth, as manufacturers are often forced to import raw materials that could be produced locally.
According to Ghana Web, Atobrah emphasized the need for a shift towards irrigation-based farming to ensure consistent agricultural output throughout the year. He highlighted that dependence on natural rainfall limits agricultural productivity and suggested that irrigation could enable continuous farming, reducing seasonal shortages.
Atobrah pointed out that the current farming practices lead to periodic shortages of key agricultural products, affecting both consumers and industries reliant on local raw materials. He mentioned the cyclical nature of agricultural production, where periods of plenty are followed by shortages, necessitating imports from neighboring countries like Burkina Faso.
He urged the government to consider introducing incentives to promote private investment in irrigation systems. He proposed measures such as waiving import duties on irrigation equipment for a specified period, encouraging farmers to independently invest in necessary infrastructure.
Moreover, Atobrah revealed that some food processing companies continue to import maize due to concerns about the quality of locally stored produce. He attributed this to inadequate storage conditions that lead to aflatoxin contamination, rendering the produce unsuitable for industrial use.
To address these issues, Atobrah called for increased investment in silos and modern storage facilities through institutions such as the National Buffer Stock Company. He stressed that this would reduce post-harvest losses, support local industries, and enhance food security in the country.