“Another National Farmers’ Day is
here with us. Ghanaians, and the rest of the world, need not be told again that
the day has been set aside to honour the nation’s gallant farmers and fisher
folks. The acknowledgment is for their pivotal role in the nation’s
socio-economic development.
The fundamental objective is clear –
to motivate those in the sector to improve on productivity in order for Ghana
to continually feed her growing population, provide raw materials to industries
and contribute substantially to the nation’s foreign exchange earnings.
As we join many Ghanaians to express
appreciation to our farmers and fishers, it is important to take stock of or
gauge activities in the sector against plan.
Ghana’s agriculture still remains
highly un-modernized with production inefficiency. While the Ministry of Food
and Agriculture acknowledges that farm implements used are cutlasses, hoes,
axes, mattocks, and equipment like spraying machines and prunes, it says these
farm implements are accompanied by traditional practices like “slash and burn.”
What this means is that the use of
modern agricultural technologies is limited, and therefore farm work is highly
manpower-based. No doubt, this is thwarting efforts to ensure increasing
productivity toward achieving food security and profitability for our
farmers.Today, the principal sources of funding for farming activities is
either from the farmers’ own savings or private money lenders and relatives.
The high cost of finance and the cumbersome procedures, coupled with lack of
collateral demanded by banks and other financial institutions have made it
impossible for our farmers to get credit for their farming activities.
Whilst 44 percent interest rate is
charged on credit for agriculture, there is no partial guarantee for our
farmers, let alone indemnity for the daring ones contracting loans. How does
the common farmer – smallholder – expand? Meanwhile, importers are able to
secure credit facility around 29.5 percent, and sometimes lower. Where lays our
priority as a nation? We as journalists see it as mere rhetoric Government’s
declaration of its commitment to the agriculture sector. If not, why will
supply be nil for 180,000 metric tons of fertilization application captured in
the 2014 budget? Last year, out of 360,000 metric tons of fertilizer budgeted
to be distributed; only half of the figure was supplied for onward distribution
to farmers across the country. This year (2016) is not different, and no one
has found it expedient to explain to the Ghanaian populace why targets were
missed.
Even the national policy on
fertilizer subsidy has deliberately excluded phosphate fertilizer, which is
badly needed by the people of Upper West Region. It is a known fact that
two-thirds of soils in the Upper West Region are seriously deficient of
phosphorus, but our leaders have turned a blind eye on it. To grow legumes, for
example, requires application of phosphate fertilizer.We want to tell
Government not just to celebrate our farmers but be seen to addressing the main
problems facing the agriculture sector, including low agricultural production,
low level of technology, inadequate number of agricultural extension officers,
shortage and high cost of labour, prevalence of pests and diseases, high cost
of farm inputs, limited credit facilities, frequent land disputes, poor
marketing network and facilities, and low prices of farm produce among
others.Once again, we take this opportunity to salute our farmers and fishers
folks for their continuous support to food security and contribution to the
economy.Long live our gallant farmers and fishers! Long live Gardja. Long live
Ghana!!Signed:Mr. Ernest Kofi Adu,Secretary General and Richmond Frimpong, President
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