Sitting Of Cottage Industries Should Be Closer To Farming Communities

Mr. Davies Nene Korboe, the President, National Farmers and Fishermen's Award Winners Association of Ghana, has called for the sitting of cottage industries closer to farming communities.

He said positioning industries closer to farming communities would help reduce post-harvest losses and cut down on rural-urban migration of the youth as envisaged under the Government's One-District, One-Factory Project.

Mr Korboe, who is the 2009 National Best Farmer, made these remarks in a presentation delivered on his behalf on Wednesday at the ongoing 69th Annual New Year School and Conference in Accra.

Speaking on the topic: "Attracting Investment into the Agricultural Value Chain: The Role of the Private Sector," Mr Korboe urged the Government to adopt policies which would not only involve the improvement of the investment climate but also enhance basic service delivery, which is considered as one of the important factors for sustaining expanding businesses.

He said the private sector has a role to play in the development of agribusiness in the country.

He called on Government should support the private sector with various policies, programmes and infrastructure that would unlock the potential in agribusiness.

He said funding was key in the agribusiness industry and therefore, government should consider a suggestion for the establishment of an Agricultural Fund/Bank with a lower and flexible interest rate system, which would cater solely for agribusiness players.

Mr Korboe noted that there were many opportunities in the agriculture, fisheries and livestock sectors, which if properly harnessed would create job opportunities.

"The private sector is encouraged to invest in this area especially, in the value chain and processing to cut down on the country's overdependence on imports and to improve on the country's foreign exchange earnings," he said.

"The private sector is the engine of growth and agribusiness/agriculture is the key sector for growth," he said.

He said "Ghana Beyond Aid" could be achieved if agriculture through the private sector players was supported with the right programmes and policies.

On challenges facing the agriculture sector, Mr Korboe said land acquisition was yet another challenge due to land tenure system; stating that besides estate developers continue to acquire agriculture lands in peri-urban areas for housing purposes.

"To this end a sensitive land use policy is required for the housing sector which would not compromise our food security agenda and threaten agribusiness in general," he stated.

The ANYSC, which is being organised by the School of Continuing and Distance Education (SCDE) of the College of Education, University of Ghana, is on the theme: 'Job Creation for Accelerated National Development: The Role of the Private Sector'.

The annual event provides a platform for a dispassionate discussion of important issues of national and international concern.

The week-long event, which was officially opened by Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is under the auspices of Komos Energy, Vodafone Ghana, Goil, Voltic, Daily Graphic, Prudential Bank and the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), University of Ghana.