The Peasant Farmers Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s recent decision to ban the export of essential grains, including maize, rice, and soybeans.
This reaction follows an announcement by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, who introduced the ban as a measure to safeguard food security amidst an ongoing dry spell that has severely impacted agricultural production across eight regions.
President of the Peasant Farmers Association, Bismark Owusu Nortey, voiced his concerns on Joy FM’s Top Story on August 26, stating that the decision was made without consulting farmers.
He emphasized that as key stakeholders in the agricultural sector, farmers should have been included in the decision-making process to help devise a sustainable solution to the crisis.
“The first one has to do with government’s resolve to ban the export of grains. I think that this particular approach – is an approach that was not inclusive.
They did not take on board the views the concerns and the possible challenges that this might have on farmers,” he said.
Mr Nortey indicated that often demand and supply determine the prices of grains on the market however, this ban would force farmers to sell their produce at cheap prices to prevent produce from spoiling in their barns.
“If you are announcing a ban, the ideal thing is to put in place local measures that will insulate the farmers from any possible low prices,” he added.