Director-General of the Center for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Professor Victor Kwame Agyemang has predicted that Ghana could face hunger in the next five years if government does not commit funds to research by the Centre now.
He told Adom News that over 50 out of every 100 acres of arable lands have been destroyed by galamsey and that has reduced agriculture income by about US$4.2 billion in 2015 alone.
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Prof. Agyemang said currently, most of the research at CSIR are donor-funded and they go to benefit the funding agencies more than Ghana.
He fears if the situation is not curbed via proper locally-oriented research, the country could face hunger in the next five years.
Prof. Agyemang appealed to Parliament to pass the Plant Breeders Bill to help do more research to avert any food shortage.
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The CSIR Director-General also noted that research conducted by the Center indicated that two percent of Ghana’s forest cover is depleted annually and there is need for measures to recover that “as we protect what is left.”
Forestry Commission is embarking on a major nationwide tree planting project, and he believes that is a good start to help restore the country’s forest cover and prevent hunger and draught.