The General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU), has requested the government to invest heavily in irrigational services to ensure all year-round food production in the country.
The Union is of the view that climate change effects were enormous stemming from flooding, change in weather patterns to drought and the best option to maximize food production was construction of irrigation equipment for the supply of water to crops as and when required.
Dr. Paschal Ajongba Kaba, Deputy General Secretary, GAWU observed that “currently, irrigation development is one of the areas the government has not prioritized.
Funds within this sector are minimal, it cannot be business as usual, and more should be done to revamp the sector.”
Speaking at the GAWU National Executive Council Meeting in Kumasi, he called on Ghanaians to take afforestation seriously.
He said the consequences of climate change were dire adding that, Ghana could not continue losing its vegetation cover, hence the need for citizens to adopt to healthy practices in safeguarding the environment.
Dr Kaba, on reforms to make the agricultural sector vibrant, suggested that the Department of Agriculture became an independent or semi-autonomous institution.
He said GAWU still working under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development impeded the development of agriculture and Ghana as a whole.
Equating the call to other agencies, like the Ghana Health Service and Ghana Education Service, the Union needed the Ghana Agriculture Service to function effectively.
The Deputy General Secretary believed whatever policy the government would bring on board could materialize within the agricultural sector.
“That means people who work within the agricultural value chain, who are the staff of the agriculture service, will play a very key role,” he stated.
GNA
