A Senior Lecturer at the KNUST, Dr. Camillus Wongnaa, has bemoaned the ineffectiveness of policies rolled out by successive governments to transform agricultural production in the country.

He observed manifestoes of various political parties on agriculture often promise grand initiatives to raise high hopes, but eventually the reality falls short.

The results of the initiatives, he says, are similar to those of the previous government.

“When you look at what we have experienced as a country over the years, you realize that anytime there’s going to be an election, a new political party comes with a new plan and the agricultural policy they come up with is not too different from what the previous government was using to rule the country,” he observed.

Dr. Wongnaa is recommending a permanent framework or policies for the sector which cannot be changed by any political party when voted into power.

He further emphasized that legislation must be constituted to prevent political parties from changing policies streamlined for the sector.

He believes a long-term agricultural development framework is very important in the country.

The call was made during a panel discussion at this year’s Graphic National Development Series in Kumasi aimed at discussing development issues.

The agricultural expert also noted that it would take collective efforts to build the agricultural space through stakeholder’ dialogues, including farmers, politicians, farmers associations and input dealers.

He believes this collaborative approach will foster innovation, productivity and growth.

“If the country can achieve meaningful growth in the agricultural sector, it’s essential to establish a policy that incorporates the insights of stakeholders,” he said.

Agricultural Economist, Dr. Mrs. Monica Addison emphasized the need for a modernized approach to farming, stressing the importance of moving beyond dependence on rain-fed to boost productivity and sustainability.

She also noted that climate change has caused significant losses to farmers and the agricultural sector as a whole, hence the need for adaptive measures to the changing climate.

“There is the need for a modernized approach to farming, shifting away from reliance on rain-fed farming and embracing innovative methods to boost productivity,” she said.