IN the mid 70s, the then military regime, the National Redemption Council (NRC) headed by the late General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong decided to focus on agriculture, especially the cultivation of food crops.
The reason was that, although the country had a large stretch of arable land suitable for the cultivation of all kinds of food crops, most of the youth who could have gone into farming had migrated to the cities and urban centres for non-existent white colour jobs.
Such a situation left the cultivation of crops such as cereals, cassava, different types of yams, plantain, legumes and vegetables in the hands of aged farmers who operated on small holdings in the hinterland.
The produce from their farms could only feed their families, leaving very little for the domestic and foreign markets.
As expected, the action resulted in scarcity of foodstuffs in the country, especially in the cities and urban centres, with the attendant high prices which affected not only the pockets of the low income earners, but also those in the middle income bracket.
The NRC’s agricultural programme code-named “Operation Feed Yourself” which was vigorously pursued under the direct supervision of the late Colonel Frank Bernasko, the then Commissioner for Agriculture, brought in its wake increased production of many crops not only in the farming areas, but also in the cities and towns where workers took to backyard gardening.
No wonder such an initiative made available abundant foodstuffs at relatively low prices that met the pockets of all manner of people, especially low income earners in the cities and towns who were able to make ends meet particularly with regard to feeding.
However, the ‘demise’ of the Acheampong government and the inability of subsequent governments to continue with the ‘Operation Feed Yourself’ programme, began to have a negative toll on food production.
However, the Atta Mills Administration has since 2009 instituted a pragmatic agricultural initiative which includes the Youth in Agriculture Programme under which a large number of unemployed young men and women have been engaged in agricultural ventures.
Although the programme is making a significant headway because the people engaged at the end of the month were financially rewarded, the bulk of the able-bodied youth, most of whom do not have the requisite qualification for office work and could also not be roped in the programme, are still unwilling to go to the land to generate income for their livelihood.
Poverty is, therefore, their lot although arable land abounds; poverty is still in the midst of plenty.
To ensure that the youth generate interest in agriculture, especially food production, the outgoing Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has personally gone into the cultivation of different kinds of crops on a sizeable land around the premises of his official residence at Koforidua.
The land, approximately four acres, has now been cultivated with plantain, the main crop, yams, mangoes, coconuts, pawpaw and vegetables.
Apart from that, there is a nursery with 100 seedlings of oil palm and a poultry farm.
One would wonder how such a very busy man with many people lined up daily, either by the door of his office or at home for his services, ha been able to work on his farm.
Hear him: “I wake up early in the morning and put on my farm gear and work until about 7.30 a.m. before taking my bath and head for the office to continue with my main duties till 5 p.m. after which I go back to the farm until darkness falls.
“Farming is interesting, you sell the foodstuffs for additional income and at the same time supplement the family budget because you do not buy the foodstuffs you have produced in your backyard,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, however, does not sell the foodstuffs he produces. After members of the family have taken what they need, the surplus is not sold but used to feed visitors, especially government officials who find their way to his residence while the bulk is given to charity.
Many orphanages and schools, the disadvantaged persons in the region, such as the Mampong School for the Deaf, have all benefited from the outgoing Regional Minister’s largesse obtained from his backyard farm.
“I am not engaged in back-yard gardening for financial gains, but to demonstrate to the youth, especially those in the cities and towns, who can do the same thing to complement the family budget because almost the whole salary is spent on food,” Mr Ofosu Ampofo stated.
Rekindling the interest in farming in the Eastern Region as being demonstrated by Mr Ofosu Ampofo should be seen as the panacea for the country’s food security and it would, therefore, be appropriate if all political office holders could adopt such a strategy.
This will entice the youth in all parts of the country to go into agriculture to ensure food security in the country because arable land is not the problem. What is lacking is the interest which the youth must be assisted to generate to take over from aged farmers.
These young men and women when actively engaged in farming would generate substantial income for themselves and also be able to properly cater for their dependants.
Furthermore, food would be in abundance at reasonable prices in the country, especially within the metropolises and towns where most of the workers reside.
The situation would enable them to spend little on food and save part of their earnings for their future development.
It is also hoped that the new role given to Mr Ofosu Ampofo as the Minister of Local Government will also enable him to extend his expertise in farming, especially backyard gardening, to every community in the country.
Such an initiative will go a long way to propel Ghana to be one of the leading food-producing countries in the West African sub-region.
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