Smallholder farmers unhappy with Agric Minister

Smallholder farmers in Ghana had expressed their discontent towards the Minister for Food and Agriculture, on his decision to reject in-kind repayment for input support under the Planting for Food and Jobs [PFJ] project.

The farmers described the directives by the Minister, hon. Dr. Osei Akoto, as a bad faith which seeks to breach the agreement between government, through the Ministry and beneficiaries of the program prior to its inception.

According to a press statement issued in Accra on Tuesday, the beneficiaries prior to the inception of the program were told by the Minister and his district and regional representatives of a 50% input support of which the farmers were to make a down payment of 25% and the remaining 25% to be paid in cash or in-kind [using produce to pay].

Subsequent to that, the statement added, there were several meetings with District Directors of agriculture and the farmers to discuss repayment modalities of which in-kind repayment were further re-iterated.

The release continued that on that basis, the farmers relied and bought into the idea as it was a way of addressing the problem of market access, reduce post- harvest losses and address the problem of low prices due to glut of mass sales after harvest to offset credit.

The statement therefore described the Minister’s unilateral decision and issue of directive to all District and Regional Directors of Agriculture to receive payment only in cash without re-negotiation with farmers as surprising, shocking and disappointing.

The press release read by Mr. Charles Nyaaba, the Programs Officer on behalf of Mr. Abdul-Rahman Mohammed, the National President of the Ghana Peasant Farmers Association [GPFA], referred to the unilateral decision as a breach of agreement and unfair treatment on the part of the government.

The group therefore called on the government to as a matter of urgency reconsider its decision and to stick to the initial agreement and further admonished all farmers especially PFAG members who benefited from the project to honour their part of the initial agreement and make their produce or cash repayment ready for the government.