The Joint Agricultural Sector Performance Review meeting for 2010 took place in Accra, yesterday.The meeting, organised by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), brought together Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Stakeholders in the agricultural sector and Development Partners to review the performance of the agricultural sector and the way forward.

 
Hon. Ahwoi indicated that the productivity gaps for many of our commodities are intolerable and  that on the average, only 55 per cent of the potential yields on most of our commodities are being achieved.
He expressed regrets that  agricultural industry linkages are weak because of inadequate provision of raw materials.
 
He said  while post-harvest loss is high, irrigation is still below one per cent of cultivated land use of fertilizer and 3.4kg%/ha for maize seed instead of 22.5kg/ha amongst other things.
 
‘We therefore need an agricultural revolution to realise that quantum required to increase productivity, get agro-industry working to achieve the accelerated growth in agriculture we so much desire’’, he added.
 
The Minister said the decision of his ministry in the last few years to improve productivity through the block farm programme with fertilizer subsidy, improved seeds and support for land preparation has paid off and is a clear demonstration that with targeted interventions, desired results can be achieved.
 
He observed that statistics show production increases for rice, maize and soya to 10.2, 30, and 51 percent respectively. The consistent fall in prices in the food component of inflation rate is also attributed to the fall in prices in the food basket, he disclosed.
 
Hon. Ahwoi stated that the food component of inflation for April this year was 5.81 per cent and is recorded as the lowest in five years, for whichreason his ministry will continue the programme, expanding it to include other commodities such as tomatoes, poultry, small ruminates, piggery and fisheries.’’
 
He pledged government’s commitment to ensuring a consistent policy environment, improving infrastructure and service delivery to enhance private sector investment in the sector  as well as the ministry’s effort to intensify partnerships with the private sector through regular dialogues to ensure that their challenges are taken into consideration in policy making and programme design.

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