Peasant farmers commemorates struggle day

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on governments to prioritise agriculture and approach the sector with all the importance it deserves.

Madam Victoria Adongo, the Programme Co-ordinator, PFAG said small-scale farmers should be protected and supported as key investors in the sector.

Madam Adongo was speaking at this year’s commemorative event to celebrate the peasant struggle on the theme: “58 years of independence; call for food sovereignty not food security,” in Accra.

In 1381, the peasant farmers under the leadership of Wat Tyler and Jack Straw, marched to London in order to present a petition to the king.

The petition called for the abolition of serfdom, tithes and the game laws as well as the right to freely use the land and before that to curb peasants roaming around the countryside looking for better pay, the government introduced law in 1351.

She said governments and financial institutions need to overcome a blinkered focus on support to large-scale farming

She said there should be mechanisms to stop land grabbing for commercial activities.

She said there should be an improvement in the land tenure arrangements, which should go hand-in-hand with land reforms.

She said the mechanisms should prioritise the needs of small-scale farmers and farming communities and regulate takeover of agricultural land for estate development.

“Government should also focus on small-scale solutions by promoting the development of indigenous seeds, community seed banks, farmer field schools, demonstration farms and farmer-to-farmer extension,” she added.

Madam Adongo said an attempt to sell seed sovereignty with the introduction of a plant breeder’s bill would be detrimental to small holder farmers, and should be replaced with a home grown seed law that protects the right of the indigenous farmer.