‘Establish nuclear seed growers centres in every community’
The President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Mr Mohammed Adam Nasiru, has called on the government to consider establishing nuclear farmers seed growers in every community.
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That, he said, would promote sustainable and equitable economic development in Ghana.
Mr Nasiru made the call at its policy dialogue with members of Parliament (MPs) in Accra yesterday.
He said small-scale farming contributed to about 80 per cent of domestic food production in the country.
The Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Mr Abdulai Baba Salifu, who chaired the event, said there was the need to finance small-scale farmers to increase productivity to satisfy the rapidly growing population.
He stressed the need to focus on small-holder agricultural schemes and for women small-holder farmers to address poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition to make Ghana achieve self-sufficiency in food production and build its positive image.
The Deputy General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union, Mr Edward Tandaga Kareweh, said the oil and agricultural sectors needed major attention since they contributed to the development of the country.
Mr Nasiru said the government should help in building the capacity of apex farmer organisations to be able to deliver services to their members, while it encouraged private sector investment in small-scale agriculture.
He said the government must also ensure that farmers’ interests were protected and that both parties derived maximum benefits.
Access to market for local produce must be attained, while community level storage facilities must be provided, he added.
He said the government should also institute a policy mandating financial institutions to invest 20 per cent of their loan portfolio in agriculture by developing innovative products to invest in agricultural value chain specialisations and linkages.
By Mary Ampeh & Dominic Awiah
