Call for the creation of more marketing avenues for farmers

Accra, Jan. 28, GNA - Mr John Kwadwo Brimpong, the 2005 Obuasi Municipal Best Farmer, has said that the institution of the Farmers' Day was ideal but that the establishment of adequate marketing centres for farmers' produce would show the other side of the coin to ensure food security.

He urged government to create an institution like the dissolved Food Distribution Corporation to take care of buying and selling farmers' produce.

Mr Brimpong who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, on Monday said once the institution was established it would encourage increased productivity and ensure economic growth. By so doing, more jobs would be created and reduce the incidence of hawking on major and urban roads, he added.

Mr Brimpong said there were tons of foodstuffs getting rotten in the hinterland either because the places were not accessible or that there were no markets and as a result many farmers could not pay their loans, labourers and unable to expand acreage.

Mr Brimpong said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture must improve its relations with farmers by visiting and educating them about new technologies, saying, "they don't come to us". Farmers might also learn about the benefits of forming co-operatives from such regular visits, he added. 28 Jan. 08