Teaching Modules Of Agriculture In Universities Must Change; Agric-Business Expert

An agri-business development expert is calling for a review of the educational curriculum of agricultural studies in Universities in Ghana.

Executive Director of Agri-Impact Consult, Dan Acquaye is worried agriculture education in universities especially KNUST is more lecture based with minimum exposure and industry interaction.

Mr. Acquaye however wants authorities to have a second look at the teaching modules for agriculture to ensure quality human resource in the Agriculture sector.

He was speaking at the launch of the 34th Green Week celebration organised by the International Association of students in Agriculture and related sciences at the Agriculture Faculty in KNUST.

The annual event was under the theme, “Post-Harvest Losses in Agriculture, its impact on Ghana's Economy.

Speaking on the theme, the expert bemoaned the high spate of post-harvest losses in sub-Saharan Africa and its impact on Ghana's economy.

Dan Acquaye, observes that post-harvest losses is a major disincentive to producers and individuals who invest in agriculture.

Africa loses about four billion dollars annually to post harvest losses. Ghana records between 20 and 50 percent post-harvest loss from the annual production in Agriculture per a year.

According to Mr. Acquaye, this stifles the growth of some sectors of the economy as government is compelled to import food.

Research reveals that Ghana imports about 6 billion worth of food annually, and 1 billion of it is lost due to post harvest losses.

As he likens Ghana to Uganda who makes clothing out of banana stems and similar countries that resort to rearing maggot in order to support the fish farming industry and prevent waste.

He however expressed worry of this rather unfortunate trend and why stakeholders presume at the expense of planting and harvesting research.

As part of the week celebration, members of the student union will trip down to some rural farming communities in the Brong Ahafo region.

President of the International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences, IASARS, Joshua Omane Yeboah revealed that the trip will school farmers on post-harvest losses.