FAO boss lauds Ghana’s local food consumption

The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation, Jacques Diouf has commended the efforts of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to prompt the consumption of local dishes from locally produced food crops.

Dr Diouf observed that Ghana abounds with a variety of natural food crops with nutritious value.

He was speaking after attending the “Grow Ghana, Eat Ghana and Wear Ghana Fair” on Monday.

The fair was held to sensitize Ghanaians on the need to consume local food and local fabrics.

Dr Diouf had inaugurated a new FAO sub regional effectively to the needs of the West Africa sub region.

Dr Diouf was in Ghana to participate in the activities marking its Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration.

He said Ghana is doing well in terms of food security and the attainment of the millennium development goal of halving extreme hunger and poverty in 2015.

However, there is more to be done in terms of value addition, processing and marketing of agriculture products adding, he said, “The battle is to ensure economic and social development.”

This, he said was the “second generation of challenge and expressed the need for more investment in irrigation, water conservation, rural development and adoption of unified standards for the trading in agriculture produce.

Dr Diouf said Ghana is consolidating its position as a hub for FAO activities as it is hosting three offices of the agency on the continent; shortly after becoming FAO member Ghana made a generous offer to host in Accra, FAO's regional office for Africa and agreement to this effect was signed in 1959.”

Source: The Ghanaian Times