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Sagnarigu, Ghana – Chief Executive of the Northern Development Authority (NDA), Dr. Majeed Haroun, says Ghana especially the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone has a huge potential for commercial fodder cultivation for livestock farmers.
According to him, the country could make approximately US$40 million annually from the cultivation of fodder. “Current world price for hay is US$189 per tonne. Global export is around 210.9 million metric tonnes since 2017. Hence, value in 2019 using the 2017 lower prices which is 189 multiplied by 210,900,000 will give you US$39,860,100 which is approximately US$40 million.
“If two cultivations are carried out (with irrigation) the value doubles to nearly US$80 million. Please permit me to pause for us all to imagine how the North of Ghana will change if US$80 million a year circulates between traders and farmers of the zone in any particular year. The Arabian market alone needs an annual 20 million tonnes of alfalfa compared to the available output of just 5 million tonnes”.
Addressing the 45th Annual General Meeting of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) at Sagnarigu in the Northern Region of Ghana on Thursday, Dr. Haroun said “We’re in collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology conducting a research to determine the types of soils favourable for the cultivation of alfalfa grass which is in high demand in the gulf region.
“When the research is completed and the results are out, farmers in Northern Ghana would make money in addition to what they earn from the cultivation of other crops. Because we’re going to bring an investor who is ready to invest in the cultivation of hay or fodder as well as support other farmers to also cultivate it so that he would pay the farmers and export them to foreign markets”, he explained.
Dr. Haroun urged the people of Northern Ghana to continue to exercise some restraint, stressing that “very soon my outfit would roll out initiatives including the cultivation of grass which would enable them to make more money including what they make from livestock and other farming businesses.”
President of the GVMA, Dr. Hope Richard Otsyina, also used the occasion to thank the Minister of State in charge of Food and Agriculture for his immense role in obtaining financial clearance for the employment of newly qualified veterinary surgeons.
“42 young veterinarians have been employed and are presently at post but without the necessary resources for them to make any significant impact on animal production. It is our hope that, Hon. Minister of State would use his good office to fast tract the employment of the remaining vets (40) and resource them to prove their worth”, he implored.
Dr. Otsina also appealed to members of the association to have sober reflections on the current state of animal production in Ghana. “Let us stop complaining about what is available and what is not available. There are problems even in the most advanced countries of the world….Let us be innovative and think about how we can circumvent our problems in our own way.
The 45th AGM of the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association which was on the theme “Rearing for Food and Jobs: The Role of The Veterinarians” brought together members of the association, livestock farmers and other stakeholders to deliberate on the role they can play to effectively ensure the success of the RFJ programme.
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Philip Liebs
