Government says it will expand the adoption of agroecological and nature-based farming practices under its flagship Feed Ghana Programme, as part of efforts to transform the agricultural sector and strengthen food security.
The Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, disclosed this in a speech read on her behalf by her Chief of Staff, Alex Segbefia, at the CIRAWA International Conference on Agroecology and Nature-Based Solutions for Sustainable Food Systems in Africa, held in Accra.
According to the Vice President, the four-year Feed Ghana Programme will promote agroecological practices through crop diversification, agroforestry, improved soil fertility management, the use of bio-fertilisers and bio-pesticides, farmer-led irrigation, simple mechanisation and improved seed systems.
“The Government of Ghana has committed, through its flagship Feed Ghana Programme, to promoting and mainstreaming agroecological practices as part of the country’s wider agricultural transformation agenda.”
She noted that despite decades of investment in agriculture by governments and development partners, food production across Africa continues to face significant challenges, making it necessary to explore more sustainable approaches.
She stressed that while conventional agricultural methods helped avert global hunger, they have also contributed to environmental degradation, making agroecology and nature-based solutions critical to the future of food production.
“The production and consumption of adequate, nutritious, safe and affordable food for all remain serious and persistent challenges across Africa and beyond.
“We must not only halt this destruction, but degraded ecosystems must also be rehabilitated and restored.”
The Vice President also called for the development of a National Agroecology Strategy and enhanced training for agricultural researchers and extension officers to support the country’s broader food systems transformation.
She urged the CSOs, researchers and development partners present to help provide practical solutions to promote sustainable agriculture across Africa.
