A former Deputy Director-General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI), Prof. Roger Kanton, has raised concerns about the government’s plan to establish farm banks as a strategy to boost agricultural productivity.
He argues that while access to farm banks is important, it should be a fundamental provision for farmers rather than a key policy focus of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
In an interview with Channel One News, on Saturday, February 22, he revealed that there are more critical policy issues that would enhance agricultural production, efficiency, and profitability, which should be the priority of any government.
He emphasized that these are fundamental concerns, noting that many farmers lack access to quality seeds. He also expressed opposition to the ongoing discussion about GMOs, stating that they are unnecessary.
According to Prof Kanton, the focus should be on producing quality seeds locally and making them readily available to farmers rather than relying on imported GMOs.
He also highlighted that the government must ensure the availability of essential farming machinery to improve efficiency.
“There are more policy issues that will enhance agricultural production, productivity, efficiency, and profitability, and this is what every government should focus on. These are basic issues.
“Farmers don’t even have seeds. There is this issue of talking about GMOs, which we do not need. I have always been against that. We should focus on producing these things and giving them to our farmers rather than importing seeds.
“Most soils in this country are highly acidic, and if they are not treated with lime before adding fertilizer, it becomes ineffective. Farmers still struggle to prepare their fields, often waiting for weeks or even months to get access to tractors. Tractors are essential, and ensuring their availability should be a priority,” he stated.
