Farmers in the Savannah region have requested farm equipment at discounted costs from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
They contend that doing so will enable them to obtain the farm inputs they require to boost production and decrease operational costs.
The petition was made by the farmers, who specialised in the production of rice and cashews, at a staff durbar that the MoFA hosted at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) on December 8, 2022.
The MoFA's tour in the northern area of Ghana began on Monday, December 5, 2022, in the Upper West and included the staff durbar, which included agricultural extension officers and various farmers.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the sector minister who had been in charge of the visit, was unable to attend the ceremony since he was in Accra at the time handling vital government business.
The farmers say the government ought to think about establishing rice and cashew processing plants in the area.
They claimed that these facilities would act as ready markets and enhance the value of their produce.
Additionally, they requested government intervention in produce pricing, highlighting the negative effects it was having on their companies.
On behalf of the ministry, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Irrigation Service (GIS), Ing. Wilson Acquah, praised the region's farmers for their diligence.
In fact, there were surpluses in production for all the commodities, which amply demonstrated the program's beneficial effects.
He informed the farmers that the government was working to form a committee to establish standard prices for different agricultural yields when it came to pricing food goods.
He revealed that a group called the Grains Development Committee would be established to monitor the pricing of grains, such as maize, cereals, millets, and other such items.
He was especially pleased that the PFJ policy was paying off.
Ing. Wilson Acquah urged the farmers to use organic fertilisers as a result of the lack of inorganic fertilisers. He gave the extension officers the task of instructing the farmers on the upkeep of farm equipment and the use of organic fertiliser.
According to him, the government has also imported some farm equipment, such as threshers, to be sold to farmers at a 40% subsidy.
In order to ensure that "Ghana becomes self-sufficient in terms of food," he instructed the extension officers and directors to monitor the unlawful exportation of food to nearby nations.
You need a permit to export your goods; otherwise, we can't collect taxes on them. Write to the government for a permit first. Together, let's put a stop to unlawful export, Ing. Acquah Wilson pleaded.
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Farmers in the Savannah region have requested farm equipment at discounted costs from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).
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