Ghana's No1 Agric News Portal
Thursday, March 30, 2023
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Farmers’ Stories
  • Business
    • Events
    • Opportunities
  • Africa/World
  • Agri-Produce
    • Crops
    • Livestock
    • Wildlife
    • Aquaculture
  • More
    • Climate Change
    • Press Releases
    • Video
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Farmers’ Stories
  • Business
    • Events
    • Opportunities
  • Africa/World
  • Agri-Produce
    • Crops
    • Livestock
    • Wildlife
    • Aquaculture
  • More
    • Climate Change
    • Press Releases
    • Video
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Illegal miners and real estate developers destroying Ghana’s agriculture sector- GAWU

March 13, 2023
in News
0 0
0
Illegal miners and real estate developers destroying Ghana’s agriculture sector- GAWU
0
SHARES
4
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has called for a national conversation on “widespread” destruction of the country’s farmlands by illegal miners and real estate developers.

The Union said large swathes of farmlands and water bodies in mining regions were being destroyed by the activities of illegal miners whiles fertile lands were being developed into settlements.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Edward Kareweh, General Secretary, GAWU, said the country must be concerned about the development, adding that failure to address the issue could have dire consequences on food security soon.

“What is happening in the agriculture sector is very dangerous for today and for the future. The advent of destructive ‘galamsey’ which is widespread throughout the country is all about agriculture destruction.

“The soils far away from the ‘galamsey’ pits are also poisoned by the mercury and the poisonous chemicals that is used in the extraction of the gold,” he said.

Mr Kareweh said the rate at which arable lands were being developed into settlements portend danger for accessibility of lands for agricultural purposes in future.

“When you travel from here to Cape Coast, you see buildings springing all over. If we don’t put measures in place and plan well, a time would come that we may have to demolish buildings before we could cultivate crops,” he said.

Touching on the President’s State of the Nation Address, which was delivered to Parliament on Wednesday, Mr Kareweh said the Union was not convinced that the investment in the agriculture as indicated by the President, would improve the sector.

President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo Addo on Wednesday told Parliament that the Government had constructed 65 warehouses, procured $29.9 million worth of machinery to improve mechanisation among other investments.

The GAWU said the President’s assertion that massive investments had been channelled into the agriculture sector did not reflect the reality on the ground.

“It is very difficult to go with the President that agriculture is doing well when he did not give us the figures and the reality on the ground is also not supporting because prices of foodstuff have skyrocketed, and food inflation has been among the highest.

“If you pick crop by crop, you will realise that in all of them, we are in serious deficit in terms of output,” Mr Kareweh said.

The GAWU urged the Government to conduct a comprehensive audit of the sector as well as policies that had been implemented over the years to diagnose the magnitude of the challenges in the sector.

The Union also called for stringent measures to halt the smuggling of farm inputs, including fertilisers to neighbouring countries to improve accessibility and affordability of inputs to local farmers.

The average share of the agriculture sector to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased from 19.1 per cent in the first half of 2020 to 21.3 per cent for the same period in 2021.

The sector employs about 60 per cent of the population and accounts for 65 per cent of the country’s land area.

Source: GNA

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
I never used chemical fertilisers but I excelled – 2017 2nd National best farmer

Farming is the most Lucrative job – CEO of Okata Farms

June 6, 2020
Sugarcane farmers seek Gov’t support ahead of Sugar Factory reopening

Sugarcane farmers seek Gov’t support ahead of Sugar Factory reopening

June 12, 2020
The 2021 Livestock, Poultry, and Fisheries (LiPF) training trade show launched.

The 2021 Livestock, Poultry, and Fisheries (LiPF) training trade show launched.

March 6, 2021
2020 National Farmers’ Day Launched

2020 National Farmers’ Day Launched

September 29, 2020
The 2021 Livestock, Poultry, and Fisheries (LiPF) training trade show launched.

The 2021 Livestock, Poultry, and Fisheries (LiPF) training trade show launched.

12637
Resurgence of ‘fall armyworms’ – Farmers warned

Resurgence of ‘fall armyworms’ – Farmers warned

4425
New Agro Intervention Project Launched to Alleviate Poverty – Kintampo

New Agro Intervention Project Launched to Alleviate Poverty – Kintampo

3503
2020 National Farmers’ Day Launched

2020 National Farmers’ Day Launched

2587
One Country One Priority Product advances in Africa

One Country One Priority Product advances in Africa

March 27, 2023
Government to compensate 138 poultry farmers affected by Avian Influenza

More poultry farms in Dormaa Municipality collapsing due to shortage of feed.

March 26, 2023
Germany supports FAO to improve access to food in Eastern Africa

Germany supports FAO to improve access to food in Eastern Africa

March 24, 2023
Nine agribusiness ideas to consider in Africa in 2023

22% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry, and land use -FAO report

March 22, 2023
Agri Ghana Online

Agrighanaonline.com is your most authentic agricultural website. We bring you all agricultural news and information from Ghana and across the world.

  • News
  • Farmers’ Stories
  • Business
  • Africa/World
  • Agri-Produce
  • More

© 2020 Agri Ghana Online -Developed By Marvbel Koncepts.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Farmers’ Stories
  • Business
    • Events
    • Opportunities
  • Africa/World
  • Agri-Produce
    • Crops
    • Livestock
    • Wildlife
    • Aquaculture
  • More
    • Climate Change
    • Press Releases
    • Video

© 2020 Agri Ghana Online -Developed By Marvbel Koncepts.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In