By Deborah Asantewaah SARFO
The Chamber of Agribusiness (CAG) has called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to review its approach to addressing food security and implement long-term solutions to solve the root-causes of food insecurity and promote productivity and resilience.
Referencing the ministry’s approach to distributing food grants to over 800,000 farmers affected by dry spells in the country’s northern and middle belts, the Chamber applauded government for its effort but emphasised that a sustainable solution is critical for dealing with the issue at hand, “…having considered the policy carefully and digging deep into the wide range of membership and experience in the agric space,” the chamber said in a press statement.
According to the Chamber, government must first of all expand existing dams for dry-season farming to reduce reliance on seasonal rainfall for cropping, thus enhancing food production during the dry season and promoting self-sufficiency all year round.
It further urged government to procure other equipment that aids farmers in using the dams.
“In addition to this, government should also procure and supply irrigation pumps, drip-lines, waterpipes, sprinklers and other relevant accessories to affected areas for use,” the Chamber noted.
It also suggested that government should engage with banks, financial institutions and agro-input importers to reduce interest rates and debt repayment modes for farmers who are victims of the dry spell.
According to the Chamber, adopting this measure will alleviate the financial burden on farmers emanating from loans and facilities they received from financial institutions in support of their businesses.
Concerning government’s relief support to the affected farmers as announced by Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, they questioned the ministry on level of technical planning that led to the decision; criteria used in identifying the 800,000 farmers; the agency responsible for distribution; and how the grants will be distributed fairly and efficiently?
Other proposals by the Chamber to government include developing a 10-year policy plan brief that presents a well-documented and coherent agricultural social protection intervention mechanism; and establishing a national agriculture risk management agency, among others.
