The Livestock Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture is contemplating the adoption of artificial insemination to increase livestock production in the country.

Presently, Ghana imports about 70 percent of livestock products.

This came to light at a roundtable discussion between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Special Envoy of Australia?s Prime Minister, Joanna Hewitt in Accra.

Presently, cereal production has reduced from 7.7 tons to 7.5tons per hector.

Rice use has also dropped from 70 percent to 50 percent while maize shortage is said to persist.

The Australian envoy charged researchers in the Agricultural sector to harness knowledge, undertake relevant research and work hard to translate findings to the farmer?s farm and not keep it on paper.

She also admonished farmers to see farming as a serious business.

The envoy noted that though Australia?s agricultural export has dropped from 70 percent to 40 percent, the country has over the last 16 years ensured food security due to the constant effort to introduce new things into the sector.

Minister for Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Ahwoi was worried agriculture might be marginalized in favour of oil since all education seems to have been directed towards that sector.

He however hoped with the help of AusAid, Ghana?s agricultural sector will rise to meet the food demands of the nation.

Australia is partnering Ghana to provide a range of training opportunities and targeted technology assistance with focus on building capacity in agriculture, mining, governance and public policy.