Nelson Mandela once said and I quote; “I dream of the vast deserts, the forests, and all of the wilderness of our continent, wild places [(and farms) emphasis mine] that we should protect as a precious heritage for our children and for our children’s children. We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment.“
Sustainability is a basic principle that requires that we conserve what we have today to make it available for the next generation. Accordingly, sustainable agriculture can be defined as farming in sustainable ways to meet present needs, without compromising the ability of our current or future generations to meet their needs.
Unlike in the past, especially in Africa, where agriculture was mainly subsistence farming, today, it has become a large, commercial, and mechanised industry with many players competing for a greater share of the market. Doing business in agriculture has not only become lucrative, but it has also proven to be resilient to economic hardships and a source of revenue for both the elite and the masses.
As our attention turns to the business of agriculture, we must understand that we have a duty to conserve and preserve it for the future and this can only be made possible if we appreciate the need for sustainable agricultural practices and are committed to complying with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Sustainable agricultural practices cover the different aspects of agriculture; from crop farming to fishing to livestock and forestry. Some sustainable agricultural practices for the different types include:
For Crop Production
- Rotating crops and embracing diversity;
- Planting cover crops and perennials;
- Reducing or eliminating tillage;
- Applying integrated pest management (IPM);
- Integrating livestock and crops;
- Adopting agroforestry practices; and
- Managing whole systems and landscapes.
For Livestock Production
- Maintaining good animal health;
- Changing the nutrition mix;
- Applying improved supplements and vaccines;
- Reducing antibiotic; and
- Applying Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
For Fishing
- Limiting fishing times and areas during a particular time of the year;
- Increasing Management Measures;
- Enforcing Traceability Standards;
- Improving Fish-Processing Methods; and
- Improving Aquaculture Industry.
For Forestry
- Afforestation and reforestation;
- Diseases and pest control;
- Selective logging and thinning;
- Pruning;
- Clear-cutting or removal of mature trees;
- Controlled burning; and
- Training and monitoring.
Sustainable Agricultural Policies in Ghana
The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Agriculture together with the efforts by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations have championed several policies in transforming and promoting sustainability in the agricultural sector. Some of these policies include among others: (a) the Ghana Agricultural Investment Plan; (b) the Sustainable Management of Shea Parklands Strategy; (c) the Agricultural Engineering Policy; (d) the Antimicrobial Resistance Policy and Strategy; (e) the Food Safety Policy; (f) the Nutrition Policy; (g) the Seed Policy; (h) the Veterinary and Livestock Improvement Policy; (i) Fisheries legislation and policies; (j) Forest resources governance; and (k) the National Plan of Action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Several other policies continue to be developed in the agricultural sector in Ghana.
Sustainable Agricultural Laws in Ghana
There are several laws that promote sustainable agricultural practices in Ghana. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1994 (Act 940) and the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652) are the major environmental laws that require farmers to conduct an environmental impact assessment on their production activities and submit the same to the EPA for approval and where required, obtain an environmental permit issued by the EPA. The Plants and Fertiliser Act, 2010 (Act 803) and the Plant Protection Regulations, 2012 (L.I 2193) make provision for approved sustainable practices for plant production. The Fisheries Act, 2002 Act 625) and regulations make provisions against unapproved fishing practices while the Forestry Commission Act, 1999 (Act 571) provides enforcement mechanisms against unlawful forestry practices.
Applicable International Laws
International laws such as the Rules, Laws and Regulations Relating to Traceability and Quality Management, Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT), the European Union Green Agricultural Policies, and International Fisheries Law continue to apply to agribusiness in Ghana.
The Benefits of Sustainable Agriculture
Some of the benefits of sustainable agriculture are described by International Business Machines (IBM) and other organisations as follows[1]:
1. Conserving the Environment and Preventing Pollution
By adopting sustainable practices, farmers will reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy, reduce chemical use, and save scarce resources. Organic farmers use diverse pastures and regenerative grazing management to create healthy soils. The relationship between plant roots and soil organisms will be minimised with reduced carbon emissions.
2. Reducing Costs and Focus on Profits
Farming smarter and moving food from farm to fork in a more efficient manner will benefit everyone involved in the agriculture industry. Mechanisation with the Internet of Things (IoT) data from sensors installed in everything from seed drills, sprayers, and spreaders to drones, and satellite imagery are helpful in reducing costs and increasing revenue.
3. Improving Food Production Without Being Wasteful
Sustainable agriculture is the route with the most opportunity to improve food production and reduce waste. The world can achieve zero hunger by combining sustainable agriculture efforts with global coordination to produce high yields and distribute food more equitably.
4. It Improves Public Health
One of the main pros of sustainable farming is its positive impact on the public’s health. Aside from contaminating soil, pesticides have harmful effects on human health. By switching to sustainable agriculture and abstaining from using pesticides, you are making the crops and your farm safer for workers and surrounding communities. So, it also improves public health safety.
5. It Promotes Industrialisation, Innovation, And Infrastructure
Sustainable agriculture plays a big role in implementing more energy-efficient and resource-efficient infrastructure for the farming industry. By prioritizing systems that lessen the negative impact on the environment, sustainable agriculture professionals can come up with relevant innovations. Some examples of sustainable agriculture innovations include advanced zero-tillage, crop rotation, and cover crop techniques, as well as the adoption of digital technologies for weather prediction and crop disease prevention.
What Must We Do?
The benefits of sustainable agriculture cannot be overstated however, it requires the commitment of farmers, processors, buyers, regulators, the government, organizations, innovators and all stakeholders including ourselves to promote, advocate for, educate on, and adopt approved practices for sustaining the agricultural industry in Ghana.
Source : Doing Business In Ghana
