Government says there is hope for Ghanaian farmers

Accra, April 30, GNA - Government has set up a National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to prevent post-harvest losses and restrain farmers from selling their produce below the actual market price.

Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, told participants at the on-going government policy fair that the National Food Buffer Stock Company would mop-up excess produce by farmers to ensure food production throughout the year at stable prices.

This is in line with the government's policy of modernizing agriculture to help transform the economy and reduce poverty. Mr Eric Osei Owusu, Head of NAFCO, explaining how the company would work, said farmers would be guaranteed a minimum price which is higher than the actual cost of production.

The measure, he said, would prevent the farmers from selling their=

produces to market women at a loss during bumper harvest season. "Farmers can come to NAFCO as a last resort. This measure will enable the general market conditions to offer better pricing where necessary," he said, and added that NAFCO's duty was to ensure that price= s do not go below a certain threshold. Mr Osei-Owusu said NAFCO had set prices for some crops and would expand their pricing mechanism to other crops in due time. A 100 kilogram of maize by NAFCO standards costs GH¢31, 84 kilog= rams of the Upland Rice Paddy from the Northern Region cost GH¢ 27 while a 1= 00 kilogram of Soya cost GH¢33.

The Government Policy Fair, the first of its kind which will end o= n May 01, had the purpose of engaging citizens in governance as well as to receive ideas and suggestions from the public. President John Atta Mills appeared at the policy dialogue unannoun= ced and assured Ghanaians of the government's commitment to the Better Ghana Agenda.

He said he believed in the abilities of the Ghanaian and welcomed=

suggestions and criticism to help make the government stay on course. The Policy fair had been praised by many Ghanaians, while many visitors to the fair have urged for continuity to enable more Ghanaians f= eel part of governance. Mr Joseph Nii Armah Kwei, an Executive Member of the National Fisheries Association of Ghana, praised the government's distribution of the premix fuel and lauded the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for cooperati= ng and involving fishermen in the drafting of policies. "Government has organized a training session for all fishermen. Formerly fishermen did not have any form of training and certification," he said happily. He said government had assured them of cold store facilities and=

ice plants to help them deal with the catch during the bumper season. Nii Amasa Namoale, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, said the government was committed to modernize agriculture. He said the Ministry had set up 85 agriculture mechanization centre= s to enable farmers have access to tractors and other modern equipment. "MOFA has done very well to stabilize the economy," he said, and add= ed that food prices were lower now as compared to 2009. 30 April 10