Ghanaian agricultural researchers are not enthused at the high concentration in increasing crop production to the neglect of animal production. A study suggests Ghana’s animal production sector is less developed to generate more employment avenues – employment opportunities are found to be much brighter for graduates in agricultural economics and crop science as compared to those who specialized in animal science. Dr. Joe Taabazuing, research consultant and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), tells Luv Fm the country’s policy emphasis on crop production is detrimental to the growth of animal production. “How can a whole nation develop when we neglect our animal production sector? So it has a policy issue; the poultry industry you’re aware is collapsing because of cheap importation of poultry products, there is no way local farmers can compete and this has a policy dimension. To what extent can we subsidize young graduates who what to establish a farm and do not have the necessary capital?" he queried. Deputy Director of the Crop Research Institute, Dr. Stella Ennin, who is also the National Focal Person of the Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA), suggests a drastic cut in imports of animal products to increase local nutritional values. In a related development, Dr. Ennin is worried at the gender disparity in the enrolment of students for agricultural training, which tends to favour males. The study report however points out that women, especially agricultural graduates, have higher employment opportunities compared to their male counterparts. “If you look at farming operations, especially in crop farming and even in animal rearing, you will see that women constitute the majority of the farmers; about 70-80 percent of food production in Africa is done by women. Why is it that when we’re training people, we have fewer women? More women I believe will impact on agriculture”, Dr. Ennin opined. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana