The Centre for Climate Change and Food Security (CCCFS) has urged the government to prioritise access to clean water and irrigation facilities for enhanced food production in Ghana.
“Against this backdrop, CCCFS is calling on the government and stakeholders within the sector to design sustainable policies that ensure safe drinking water for people and wean Ghana off its long-standing rain-fed agriculture systems,” it said.
In a statement signed by Dr Jacob Sarfo, the Deputy Director of Research, to commemorate the 2023 World Food Day, the Centre urged the government to invest in new technologies that enhanced access to clean water and irrigation systems for sustainable food production.
“We would like to use this day to reiterate and remind governments of the need to pay attention towards the degradation of our biodiversity and environment through unsustainable agricultural practices, galamsey activities, and the shift towards Western-style dietary habits.”
For Ghana to meet its food security needs, ensure a healthy population, and deal with climate change effects, practicable and sustainable policies and interventions must be instituted to turn the tide of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, it said.
“The Centre is, therefore proposing that the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative should be anchored on sustainability as well, not just the production of food at the expense of enhancing biodiversity and protecting the environment, because sustainability and food production are not mutually exclusive.”
The statement commended the country for being a member of the Agroecology Coalition and implored government to deepen its involvement in the Coalition, leverage the available resources to promote food production, create jobs in the sector, and enhance biodiversity.
The fight against illegal mining, the statement said, must be intensified by targeting the actual powers behind the menace.
It also called for deliberate policy to promote the production and consumption of indigenous foods as well as preservation of the traditional food culture.
In the coming weeks, the CCCFS would lead an advocacy platform to draw attention to indigenous foods to ensure good nutrition, enhance biodiversity, protect the environment and create jobs, the statement said.
GNA