ICT mix in Agriculture critical to national development - Dr Frimpong

By Kodjo Adams, GNA
Accra, Jan. 17, GNA - Dr Godfred Frimpong, Deputy Director for Centre, for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has called for the integration of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) into agriculture to ensure holistic national development.

Dr Frimpong made the suggestion in Accra at the 68th Annual New Year School and conference on the theme; 'Promoting National Development through Agricultural Modernisation: The Role of ICT'.

Dr Frimpong said it was imperative for the country to prioritise agriculture if agriculture was to be modernised to spur rural development.

He said the Government implemented the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS I) over the period 2003-2005, which resulted in stable macroeconomic conditions with increased fiscal space.

The country is currently implementing a successor national development policy framework, the GPRS II, over the period 2006-2009.

He said in addition to the implementation of policies addressing poverty under GRPS I and II, the country had adopted Modernised Agriculture Based on Rural Development.

'The transformation of the rural environment…is expected to be achieved through agro-based industrialisation, effective decentralisation, private sector development and a changing role of the State,' he added.

He said land reform was also seen as essential not only for rural transformation but for enhancing the production environment in general.

He explained that the Government's Agricultural Modernization Strategy also hinged on increased land under irrigation, increased mechanisation, value addition to traditional crops such as cocoa, expanding cash crop production and strengthening support to the private sector.

Dr Frimpong explained that the role of Government in the strategy comprised investment in transport infrastructure and concentrating in areas of high agricultural potential to make them attractive to formal private investment.

'While commercial agriculture is central to the strategy, it is anticipated that some priority is given to smallholder agriculture,' he said.

'The strategy favours labour intensive as opposed to capital intensive technologies, rural over urban locations for processing plants, and crops which can be produced by smallholders.'

He said the Government's objective to modernise agriculture based on rural development broadly included reforming land acquisition to ensure easier access and more efficient land ownership and title processes, and the creation of lands.

Dr Frimpong said the government had put in place policies to serve as a catalyst to assist the private sector to increase the production of grains to achieve food security, including extension and research services, irrigation facilities, and affordable credit to support the farmer.

He said the implementation of policies aimed at ensuring food security such as reducing post-harvest losses, increasing the tonnes of major crops produced, establishment of silos showed positive trends over the period of implementation.

He noted that the policies had made tremendous successes, including the provision of irrigation facilities, particularly small-scale irrigation facilities, which utilised minimum machinery, small dugouts, bore holes and tube wells, and the rehabilitation of all viable irrigation facilities.

Professor John Ofosu Anim, the Dean, School of Agriculture, University of Ghana, described agriculture as 'the backbone of a country's economy' saying no country could develop without agriculture'.

Prof Anim also suggested the infusion of ICT into the process of agriculture through the digitising of land records, mapping out fields or land areas and improved agriculture extension officers.

He said the integration of ICT into agriculture would strengthen local industries and farmer participation, improved transparency, ensure accountability, help farmers to access financial services and lead to better procurement.

Prof Anim urged the Government to continue to build the capacity of stakeholders to ensure that food security, economic security, and national security were carried out in a sustainable manner.

GNA