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The College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences (CACS) of University of Ghana, on Wednesday launched a strategic plan to enhance its status and image to an international standard within the next three years. The strategic plan also has a major objective of addressing national and global challenges in agriculture using scientific innovations in sustainable agriculture and human development. Professor Kwame Afreh-Nuamah, Chairman of the Planning Committee for the Strategic Plan, told the GNA that the College would improve the staff strength and motivate the already qualified and experienced staff. �In addition, we will develop a mutually beneficial relationship with stakeholders in the agricultural sector to train our students to suit the need of the market,� he added. Prof. Afreh-Nuamah said the college was currently confronted with a poor public perception of its contribution and relevance hence the development of the strategic plan to create awareness about their training programmes and capabilities. Dr Alfred Tia, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, who launched the plan, expressed government�s commitment towards agricultural development in Ghana. He announced that government would provide the necessary policy environment to make universities set up model farms to encourage more youth into agricultural business. �To demonstrate government�s commitment, we have donated a tractor to the university,� he said and added that for the country to be self sufficient in agriculture its agricultural policies should be reviewed. While commending the college for the strategic plan, he urged them to undertake research which would be beneficial to the country in the future. Prof. B. Ahunu, Provost of the College, explained that the plan would provide a framework to enable it exploit available opportunities and confront any challenges in their operations. He said the College therefore, had a unique opportunity to influence related policy decisions and play a crucial advocacy role to ensure that the right national choices were made, and to attract the necessary support for investment in the agricultural sector of the economy. Prof. Ahunu said, �We have set for ourselves high aspirations and superior standards for which we must secure the financial and moral support of government and all stakeholders in the execution of the strategic plan.�