That is because more than 67% of our workforce is in agriculture and more than 60% of household income of lower income groups are spent on purchasing food.
So benefits from investments in agriculture and agro-processing are more readily distributed among society.
In contrast, investments in oil and mining go to a very small percentage of the population. The latter fuels the distortion in distribution of income — it grows the gap between the rich and the poor (which is characteristic of what is happening in Ghana and also globally)" - Dr. Abu Sakara
Both industries are Natural resource industries with Agriculture and its products mostly being Renewable but petroleum products being Non-renewable with its negative environmental effects when handled carelessly.
The importance of these two natural resources to our daily lives can not be overemphasized.
Since every modern Economy depends on these two Natural resources, it is important to balance its development.
The development of one shouldn't be at the detriment of the other. Policy must be geared towards ensuring that a certain percentage of revenue realised from mining and oil production is utilised or maintained in the locality.
"The Best Culture Is Agriculture"
Akwasi A. Tagoe
This is very enlightening and true....But sadly we are loosing out our Agriculture lands to constructional purposes. I can still recall how most of my relatives in my village cannot farm anymore because the lands are sold out.
ReplyDeleteon the other side most of the youth of these days have a misconception about Agriculture and have totally lost interest in the sector which happens to be the backbone of our dear nation.
Keep up the good work on Agric advocacy and i believe Ghana will work again...
longlive Mr. Writer