Ghana’s Ambassador to China, H. E Edward Boateng has said that Ghana can only progress in the agricultural sector if it takes a cue from China’s scientific approach to farming.
In a special virtual discussion on the Happy Morning show, dubbed: “‘Agriculture: Africa’s post Covid-19 recovery catalyst?”,
Ambassador Boateng shared that even though farming in China is characterized by peasant farming, one thing that makes the country stand out is how these farming processes are cordinated to yield produce.
“It is true that there is a lot of peasant farming in China but it is very well coordinated. If you go to these farms you cannot help but marvel. Probably the average farm holdings in most places in rural china,one acre or less . But things works. Because from the planting process to the harvesting process to the market is seamless”, he said.
He contrasted what was happening in China to what was happening in Ghana when he said, “Until recently when there has been this conscious scientific approah under the Planting for Foods and Jobs,you will realize that we treat farming not really seriously.
My grandparents were farmers and now when I sit back and look at what they were doing, was it really farming or gardening together so that you could feed your family? On that one small acre farm, the person was growing plantain, cassava, onions, pepper . Sometimes even taking care of their livestock. How are they going to generate enough income?”.
Proposing what Ghana could do to improve its farming systems, he noted that like China we need to have a holistic approach to farming in Ghana.
He recounted that in China, while they may grow the same type of rice, different towns or villages specialize in the various parts of the process such as production,harvesting,marketing and packaging towards the success of the market. He added that there are also educational institutions that “generate brain power from all levels towards the success of that activity taking place”.
“We in Ghana need to have a holistic approach to farming. So if it is rice, the Bono, Oti region or Tamale should be dedicated to rice. This is the rice industrial area of Ghana.
The rice farmer in Ghana has competition in Ghana, West Africa, East Africa and all over the world. At the end of the day whose rice is making the market. We need to look at the whole supply chain”, he advised.
By: Alberta Dorcas N D Armah