Nat’l Tymes News Desk
GHANA’S High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, H.E. Mrs. Sabah Zita Benson, has praised the launch of a new policy guide on National Agricultural Data Infrastructure (NAgDI), describing it as a timely and powerful step towards transforming agriculture through data and technology.
Speaking at the launch event, H.E. Zita Benson thanked the Commonwealth Secretariat and agricultural data expert Dr. Benjamin Adom for leading the initiative. She said Ghana is proud to be among the four countries selected to benefit from the programme.
She explained that the agriculture sector is long overdue for digital transformation and highlighted that agriculture goes beyond farming — it’s also about trade and economic development.
“Agriculture is more than farming. It’s also trade. So when we collect and digitize agricultural data, it helps improve not just farming practices but also boosts trade and supports economic growth,” she said.
She added that agriculture is essential for food security, job creation, and the survival of nations. But to fully modernize the sector, accurate and timely data is needed to support decisions and planning.
The newly launched NAgDI policy framework is designed to provide a national system for collecting and using agricultural data effectively. It follows a major stakeholder meeting held in Accra in November 2023, where over 35 institutions from the public and private sectors participated. A policy brief was developed after that meeting, and the new guide is the final output.
Quoting data expert Edward Deming, she said, “Without data, you are just another person with an opinion,” and stressed the importance of strong agricultural data systems for national progress.
H.E. Mrs. Sabah Zita Benson also said the NAgDI policy aligns well with President John Dramani Mahama’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA). She mentioned key programmes under this agenda, including:
– Farmer Service Centres to support farmers with inputs and tools
– Free fertilizers and seedlings for cocoa farmers
– Farm Banks to ease access to land and irrigation
– A Grains Development Program to increase local production of key crops like rice, maize, and soybeans.
She further noted that Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Policy, recently launched, will benefit from such digital systems. That policy aims to increase productivity, reduce unemployment, and support exports in key sectors like agriculture, logistics, and manufacturing.
“Having a national agricultural data system will help government, businesses, and farmers make better decisions. It will boost innovation, planning, and trade,” she said.
Mrs. Zita Benson encouraged collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to build the infrastructure needed for the data system.
“Together, we can use data to transform agriculture, ensure food security, and improve lives,” she concluded.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
