The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Ida Adjoa Asiedu, put the Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the spotlight during parliamentary proceeding
The Member of Parliament for Ayensuano, Ida Adjoa Asiedu, put the Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the spotlight during parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, pressing for details on programs aimed at improving farmers’ skills and knowledge in modern agricultural practices.
Rising during question time, the Ayensuano MP, Ida Adjoa Asiedu inquired about the training and capacity-building initiatives available for farmers to boost productivity and adopt contemporary farming techniques.
The query comes amid growing concerns over low farm yields and the need for enhanced agricultural mechanization and technical know-how across the country.
Responding to the inquiry, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, detailed a wide array of ongoing initiatives facilitated by the Ministry through its Directorate of Agri-Extension and the Agri-Engineering Services Directorate.
He highlighted that the programs combine theoretical training with hands-on field demonstrations, conducted through farm and home visits, workshops, and practical field sessions.
According to the Minister, some of the key training areas include: Preparation and use of compost and organic fertilizers for soil health improvement, Application of blended fertilizers for crops such as tomatoes to enhance yields, construction of improved poultry and livestock housing to increase productivity, Formulation of nutritious feed for poultry and small ruminants, Soybean seed inoculation and use of rhizobium to improve nitrogen fixation, implementation of soil conservation techniques, including minimum tillage, cover cropping, intercropping, mulching, and crop rotation, Safe use of agrochemicals and correct fertilizer application methods, Nursery layout, seedling transplanting, and post-harvest handling practices and integrated pest management and disease scouting using modern tools like sticky traps.
Eric Opoku emphasized that these programs are designed to ensure farmers not only learn modern practices but also adopt technologies that can directly improve productivity and sustainability in agriculture.
Ida Adjoa Asiedu thanked the Minister for his comprehensive response, signaling her appreciation for the Ministry’s ongoing efforts while noting the importance of continuing such initiatives to support farmers nationwide.
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