A coalition of Ghanaian agriculturalists, operating under the Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana, is urging the government to formally license and train farmers, arguing that farming should carry the same regulatory weight as professions such as law and medicine.
Speaking to a news outlet, the association’s president, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, warned that unsafe agrochemical practices and outdated farming methods are not just a health hazard but also jeopardize Ghana’s reputation in lucrative export markets. He declared:
“Farming is not a hobby. It is a profession like medicine, teaching, or law. Just as these practitioners are certified and accountable, farmers should receive proper training and licensing to operate.”
The group stressed that cultivating agriculture at such a scale , with its significant contributions to GDP and employment, demands higher standards, not unregulated practices.
Without formal oversight, they argued, the risk of contaminated produce could lead to public health crises and costly rejections of Ghanaian exports.
The call aligns with broader government initiatives to professionalize agriculture such as the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP), which provides training and mechanized services for young farmers, and the new Feed Ghana Programme, which encourages the formation of farmer cooperatives to enhance food security and spur agribusiness growth.
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