Create An Emergency Response Unit In Every Region To Tackle Diseases -A/R Minister

Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has underscored the need for the Food and Agric Ministry to set up an emergency response unit in all its regional offices across the country to quickly help tackle and control diseases such as avian flu which kills a lot of livestock.

Simo Osei-Mensah disclosed this at the second edition of the five day agricultural fair as part of the 37th Farmers' Day celebrations in Cape Coast when his region took turns to showcase its culture.

He, therefore, commended the President through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for a good work done, but "we also plead with them to do more to support the farmers in a much better way''.

Mr. Osei-Mensah further called for digitization in farming, and resort to the old ways of selling agriculture produce, adding "we must therefore educate the farmers new ways to sell or market their farm produce, without having to travel to do that, if they are taught how to use the digital platform. This will enable them sell their products on the platform for buyers to purchase to establish the market and even export to other countries. And by so doing agribusiness can be successful".

He noted that, when it comes to tourism in Ghana, Ashanti Region contribute towards the growth of the economy.

Oti Regional Minister, Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, on his part stated that though the region was in its infancy stage, it still had a commendable potential of contributing to the country’s food security.

He indicated that the region was self sufficient in food production and he was hopeful that with the right mechanisms in place, they would be able to consolidate the gains.

He mentioned the region since its creation had instituted measures to ensure that its food systems were strengthened enough to provide food for residents and extend it to other regions in the country, saying "Oti Region produces what it eats and does not depend on any external source".

"We depend on our own products and export the rest and I am positive we will not rely on external source even in future."

"We supply yam to the Greater Accra region, if you go to the volta region most of the yams are supplied by us and we supply a good number of regions in the country with our produce,” he added.