Global food demand to increase by 70%

Global demand for food would increase from the current level to 70 per cent by 2050, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, has said.

The minister said the projection was based on current developmental trends such as the growing global population, which will hit nine billion by 2050, and called for effective and efficient measures to address the increasing demand.

He said the situation called for efficient land management with the use of science and technology.

Alhaji Fuseini made the call when he addressed a stakeholders’ forum on the development of a National Geodetic Reference Network (GRN) Policy for Ghana in Accra on Wednesday.

The forum brought together non-governmental and non-profit organisations, utility companies, officials of the Lands Commission, ministries and security agencies, among other organisations, to share ideas and bring diverse experiences to enrich the implementation of the GRN policy.

He said one of the effective ways of  addressing the increasing demand for food was making available relevant and adequate geospatial information to the small and commercial food producers, fishermen and pastoralists.

According to Alhaji Fuseini, studies had shown that geospatial (satellite) information could be used for user-tailored agriculture advice resulting in higher crop yield and early warning against drought, flooding and diseases and lead to the provision of useful data. The GRN Policy

The National Geodetic Reference Network (GRN) Policy, initiated by the Lands Commission with both Swedesurvey and Geo-Tech Survey as consultants, stems from the need to provide a consistent and integrated reference surface for data analysis.

Application includes fundamental support for land surveying, mapping, engineering surveying, remote sensing and mineral exploration. 

The GRN Policy will be funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the International Development Association (IDA)  and the Government of Ghana. Benefit to Ghana

The minister said  the GRN would help control the position, extent and orientation of surveys, adding that it would provide both accurate and homogeneous reports in its delivery.

Alhaji Fuseini said the GRN would also prevent land disputes, reduce the cost of surveying and provide more accurate measurements to make land service more accessible to landowners.

Alhaji Fuseini assured the nation that the menace of land guards and the illegal property demolition, would be addressed when the new Land Bill and the Land Use Planning Bill were passed into law.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Geo-Tech Survey Limited, Mr Stephen Djaba, said the GRN policy would enable farmers and clients to register their lands for the purposes of seeking financial support to enhance productivity for poverty eradication in the country.