The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has assured members of the Peasant |Farmers Association of Ghana and farmers across the country of his support and willingness to work with small holder farmers and relevant stakeholders to reset the country’s agricultural sector for economic growth and transformation. The Minister gave this assurance when the board, management and members of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana paid a courtesy call on him at his office.
The Minister also took the opportunity to explain several governments’ proposed initiatives which was focused on increasing productivity, food security and improving farmers’ incomes and livelihoods. Key among them include the “Irrigation for wealth creation programme”, which is to be implemented across eight regions in the country targeting between 10,000 to 25,000ha of irrigable land. He also indicated the Ministry’s priority to secure funding for the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam project.
On enhancing access to inputs and services, he indicated that the government will be establishing the Farmer Service Centres across the country, to provide inputs such as seeds, fertilizer and agrochemicals as well as advisory and mechanisation services to farmers. He emphasized on the critical role PFAG can play in that regard by indicating that, “the PFAG can play a role in partnering with the government to provide inputs through the proposed centres”. He also announced that, the Ministry has in its possession some machineries, which are available at subsidized rates for farmers and farmer groups. He encouraged PFAG and its groups to apply for a 60% subsidy component.
In addressing post-harvest losses and marketing constraints, he indicated that the ministry will work closely with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to construct feeder roads connecting food-producing communities to markets to reduce food price hikes. He also announced that government was collaborating with private processing companies to set up mini processing centres at locations producing perishable food crops. On access to credit, he announced the proposed roll-out of the Ghana Agricultural Insurance Scheme (GAIS) through subsidies to provide insurance for the the activities of smallholder farmers to improve their access to credit. He encouraged farmers to form cooperatives to strengthen their agency allowing them to access loans for agricultural purposes.
To address the menace of illegal mining, he indicated that the Ministry is liaising with other sister ministries to tackle the menace and its effect on food production and security. In declaring his commitment to be inclusive in his approaches, he stated that “l am ever ready to work with you, you should also build the confidence and hope in me to work together. My principle as a minister is to contribute to ensure food sufficiency in the country and my doors are open to you to collaborate and partner to ensure we meet our goal”.
The members of the PFAG, led by the National President, Mr. Wepia Awal Adugwala, had outlined critical areas of the sector requiring the ministry’s attention to improve food production, food security and economic development. Critical areas presented ranged from infrastructure such as irrigation, market structures, boosting farmers’ access to production inputs and financial resources to the stern fight against illegal mining to safeguard farmlands.
The National President, thereafter presented proposals from members of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana to the minister with a pledge from the minister to scrutinise the document and consider recommendations to resolve the agriculture sector.
The Acting Executive Director, Mr. Bismark Owusu Nortey appreciated the minister’s effort to resolve the challenges faced by farmers in the country. He assured the minister of the association’s support achieving the goals and vision to ensure the country attains food sufficiency.