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Farmers
demand ware housing facilities
WA, Dec.10, Ghanadot/GNA - The National Farmers and
Fishermen Award Winners Association has suggested to the
Government to establish ware-house facilities in all
districts of the country for the storage and distribution of
foodstuffs.
The facilities, which should be provided on cost recovery
basis, would eliminate some of the bottlenecks that have
encouraged post-harvest losses and undermined national food
security.
Mr Philip Abayori, National President of the Association
made the suggestion on behalf of the Association at the 23rd
National Farmers Day celebration at Wa during which 62
farmers, fishers and Agricultural Extension staff were
honoured for their hard work.
He noted that farmers and fishers were not enjoying the
fruits of their labour as a result of the lack of
agricultural infrastructure like ware housing systems,
inefficient post-harvest technology, producer pricing and
marketing systems.
He said it was also necessary that farmers and fishers be
fully represented in mainstream agricultural activities such
as negotiations, implementation and evaluation of all
agricultural projects as a way of strengthening the sector
to boost production.
"We have been ignored by institutions mandated by government
to support efforts aimed at ensuring national food security
job creation and poverty reduction".
The Association expressed concern about alleged imposition
of heavy fines on Ministry of Food and Agriculture in
respect to land used for the execution of agricultural
projects and called on the Chief Justice and Traditional
rulers to take a critical look at the issue.
"Why are communities demanding such money from government
and still enjoying the benefits of those facilities fully
paid by the state for their own gains"?
Mr Abayori appealed to the government to provide a suitable
building that could house the offices of farmers’ and
fishers’ organisation in appreciation of their hard work and
contribution to nation-building.
He observed that a building in Accra opposite the Teachers'
Hall was put up in the First Republic to accommodate all
farmers' organizations, but to their surprise, it had now
been pulled down.
GNA
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