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Tamale, Ghana – The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) has recommended to the government to workout strategies to roll out the cultivation of forage on commercial basis to support the livestock industry and also for export.
The GVMA said observed that, government’s “Rearing for Food and Jobs” is one of the best policy programs to have been implemented because it would go a long way to ensure a reduction in the importation of foreign meat products into the country.
However, the Association believed that in order to ensure sustainability of the program, urgent steps must be taken by the government to venture into the cultivation of food for livestock, for export and to support job creation.
“………We also observed that the development and production of forage and hay can help address the menace of crop farmer/herder conflicts.
“Looking at the enormity of rolling out a successful “Rearing for food and jobs” program, the Association considers the need for government to beef up veterinary capacity by employing the newly qualified veterinary officers and veterinary paraprofessionals and logistic support to the Veterinary Services Directorate.
“While the Association recognizes the role of the private sector in animal health delivery systems, it is the considered opinion of the Association that the procurement and distribution of veterinary drugs and biologicals should be properly supervised and regulated by the competent veterinary authority”, the Association said in a communique issued at the end of its 45th annual general meeting held from October 31st to November 2nd 2019.
Below is the Full Communique of the GVMA:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 45TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) OF THE GHANA VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (GVMA), HELD FROM 31ST OCTOBER TO 1ST NOVEMBER 2019, AT THE MODERN CITY HOTEL, TAMALE, NORTHERN REGION.
The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) at its 45th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale from Thursday 31st October to Friday 1st November, 2019 under the theme “Rearing for food and jobs: the role of the veterinarian.” The function was chaired by Tugu Lana Mahama Andani and the key note address delivered on behalf of the Minister of State, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) by Dr. Majid Harun, CEO of Northern Development Authority.
At the end of our deliberations, the association identified the roles of the veterinarian in the successful implementation of the flagship Government of Ghana Project – Rearing for Food and Jobs. The association hereby commends the Government for the policy as it will increase domestic production, reduce importation of livestock and livestock products, contribute to employment generation and improvements in livelihoods of livestock value chain actors and the national economy. The AGM also considered several areas that could affect the success of the policy.
Following the discussions and interactions, the Ghana Veterinary Medical Association herein referred to as the Association, adopted the following resolutions:
- Association supports the government for rolling out the “Rearing for food and jobs” program and recommends that management of the project at the District level should be well coordinated involving all the relevant stakeholders.
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The Association recognizes that planting for food and jobs has targeted maize and soya bean production and recommends that as a matter of urgency, government should work out strategies for rolling out forage production and harvesting of hay on commercial basis to support the livestock industry and for export whilst at the same time, supporting job creation. We also observed that the development and production of forage and hay can help address the menace of crop farmer/herder conflicts.
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Looking at the enormity of rolling out a successful “Rearing for food and jobs” program, the Association considers the need for government to beef up veterinary capacity by employing the newly qualified veterinary officers and veterinary paraprofessionals and logistic support to the Veterinary Services Directorate.
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The Association notes with satisfaction, the value chain approach of “Rearing for food and jobs” program. However, the Association believes sustainability elements should be identified coupled with the relevant drivers of the value chain to ensure viability of the project over the years.
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The Association recognizes the impact of previous projects such as Livestock Development project (LDP), the Pan African Control of Epizootics (PACE), etc on the livestock industry in Ghana and proposes that “Rearing for food and jobs” program should build strongly on the successes and experiences of these projects guided by the gaps identified during the evolution of the “Rearing for food and jobs” program.
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While the Association recognizes the role of the private sector in animal health delivery systems, it is the considered opinion of the Association that the procurement and distribution of veterinary drugs and biologicals should be properly supervised and regulated by the competent veterinary authority.
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The Association recognizes the role of research in innovation and development in the future advancement of the Livestock sector and recommends stronger linkages and uptake of research findings to drive the “Rearing for food and jobs” program.
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The Association recognizes the critical role of monitoring and evaluation in project’s success and therefore recommends that district technical committees for planting for food and jobs program, should be expanded to include effective and institutionalized monitoring and evaluation framework for the “Rearing for food and jobs” program.
Conclusion
The 45th AGM highly commends the Government for the “Rearing for food and jobs” program, as a great initiative in the livestock sector and is solidly behind Government’s initiative.
Dated this 1st day of November of the year of our Lord 2019.
Signed
President
Dr. Hope Richard Otsyina
Ghana Veterinary Medical Association
By SavannahNewsOnline.Com/Philip Liebs
