By Caleb Kuleke, GNA
Ho, Nov. 12, GNA- Panelists at the Ho Technical University’s Food, Agriculture, Technology and Sustainability (FATAS) Conference have underscored the need to equip farmers, especially smallholder farmers, with modern technology to boost food production.
The panelists stressed that while modern technology was essential for improving farming and increasing yields, most peasant farmers lack the technical know-how to operate these tools, making adoption difficult.
They also called for the promotion of indigenous technologies to enhance agricultural production and food preservation, noting that traditional methods avoid harmful chemicals that could negatively affect citizens’ health.
The two-day Conference is on the theme: Innovation for Resilient Future: Integrating Food Systems, Technology and Sustainable Agriculture.
Dr Vincent Botsio, Senior Scientific Officer at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), highlighted the effectiveness of using shea tree bark and neem leaves to preserve cereals like maize.
He explained that these natural alternatives successfully drive away weevils without the health risks associated with chemical preservatives like Actellic, adding that food integrity and sovereignty remained key.
Dr Botsio expressed satisfaction that Ghana had mainstreamed climate-smart agriculture and the circular economy into its national framework, noting that climate-smart agriculture aimed to promote food productivity, enhance adaptation, and support climate mitigation.
However, Dr Botsio lamented that while the country boasted sound policies, poor execution of the accompanying action plans continued to hinder national development.
Dr Botsio further expressed concern over the discontinuation of viable policies following changes in government, warning that abandoning predecessor’s initiatives stalled national progress.
He called for mechanisms to ensure policy continuity across different administrations.
Mr Paul K. Oppong, Lead of the Robotics Team at Ho Technical University, identified poor network connectivity, high equipment costs, and limited digital literacy as major barriers to technology adoption among smallholder farmers.
He explained that many smallholder farmers not only lack the funds to purchase modern agricultural tools, but also lack the technical skills required to apply them on their farms, further slowing adoption.
Miss Theresa A. Nyamekye, Volta Regional Agricultural Extension Officer, urged researchers to design inclusive technologies that persons with disabilities in agriculture could easily operate to improve their livelihoods.
Mr Godwin E. Adordie, Chief Executive Officer of Praise Export Services Limited, noted that limited knowledge of how to apply modern technology prevented most farmers from scaling up, creating an urgent need for farmer education and training.
He encouraged researchers to partner with industries aligned with their work so they could secure funding and complete projects on time to drive industrial growth.
Mr Adordie advised prospective exporters to thoroughly understand global market dynamics before entering the sector, stressing that knowing destination preferences and international quality standards was crucial for success.
Mr Seth Agbemavor of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana emphasised the need to develop farming technologies tailored to the specific topography of Ghanaian farmlands.
He pointed out that most imported technologies were designed for foreign terrains and may not function effectively on local soil, making locally adapted innovations essential
Mr Agbemavor cited inadequate funding as a major challenge for smallholder farmers and called for stronger partnerships with financial institutions to improve access to credit for acquiring modern farming equipment.
Professor Ben Honyenuga, Vice Chancellor (VC) of the Ho Technical University, noted that agriculture remained the primary employer for the majority of Ghana’s population.
The VC urged stakeholders to find innovative ways to make the sector attractive to the youth.
He explained that the conference aligned closely with the global development agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 on Zero Hunger.
It also supports SDGs 12, 13, and 17, which championed responsible production and consumption, climate action, and strategic partnerships for sustainable development.
Prof. Honyenuga stated that the conference theme focused on one of the nation’s defining challenges: “how to sustainably feed a growing global population while preserving the natural resources upon which the future depends.”
The VC pointed out that contemporary threats including adverse climate conditions, land degradation, flooding, and the pollution of water bodies from illegal mining (galamsey) underscored the urgent need for transformative interventions.
However, he added that these pressing challenges also presented significant opportunities to leverage technological innovations and adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to strengthen food security and drive sustainable growth.
Prof Honyenuga further emphasised the need to ensure that any solution developed to address these pressing challenges remained accessible, adaptable, and beneficial to farmers, communities, businesses, and economies at all levels.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade