Major cereal importer, Finatrade wants government to give priority to the development of other cash crops beyond cocoa in its quest to make local farmers competitive. Its Public Affairs Manager John Awuni says the current strategy where import tariffs are increased to protect local industry is outmoded and ineffective. According to him the current prevailing tariffs make Ghana uncompetitive when compared to its immediate neighbors, adding that plans in the budget to further increase them would worsen the situation. Mr. Awuni told Joy Business, increasing import tariffs on chicken and rice which are staples will adversely affect consumers. He said many countries had recognized that using tariffs as a weapon to discourage imports was an ineffective. He believes the country is better off focusing on its relative strength by paying attention cash crops which Ghana has the climate and land to cultivate. Source: Joy Business/Ghana