The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana has urged the government to outline sustainable solutions to address food insecurity in the country.
The Chamber stated this in a press release dated October 10, 2024, signed by the Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Kofituo Morrison.
Farmer Morrison acknowledged the government’s efforts to provide relief to farmers affected by the recent dry spell.
He indicated that the announcement made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Bryan Acheampong (PhD), regarding the distribution of food grants to over 800,000 farmers affected by the dry spell in the northern and middle belts of the country would be a good solution, in their estimation, if a more sustainable and long-term approach were proposed to address the root causes of food insecurity when such situations arise.
The Chamber of Agribusiness outlined steps that the government should follow to ensure food security and curb food insecurity in the country.
The Chamber indicated that the government should provide funds to expand existing dams. “This action will enable farmers to engage in dry-season farming, reducing reliance on seasonal rainfall for cropping. This will not only ensure food availability throughout the year but also improve farmers’ livelihoods through enhanced but sustainable incomes,”.
“In addition to this, the government should procure and supply irrigation pumps, drip lines, water pipes, sprinklers, and other relevant accessories to affected areas for use. This will enhance food production during dry seasons and promote self-sufficiency in productivity,” Morrison added.
Farmer Morrison further highlighted that engaging banks, financial institutions, and agro-input importers to reduce interest rates and debt repayment modes for affected farmers will alleviate the financial burdens stemming from loans and facilities they have contracted for their business activities.
He stated, “It is believed that the funds from these reduced burdens can enable farmers to reinvest in their farms to make up for the shortfall this situation has caused. The end outcome of this action will lead to increased productivity and food security throughout the country.”
“Again, we urge the government to establish a National Agriculture Social Protection Mechanism. The government can do this by developing a 10-year policy brief that spells out a well-documented and coherent Agriculture Social Protection Intervention Mechanism with a deliberate integration and development of a comprehensive program to drive socio-economic protection for farmers in Ghana.
The Chamber strongly believes that by integrating these components and implementing the proposed strategy, Ghana can establish a robust Agriculture Social Protection Intervention Mechanism to protect and empower its farmers to face the future with well-thought-out solutions when situations like this arise,” Morrison stated.
Another key step the government can take is to address the root causes of food insecurity in the country, especially those causes linked to climate change.
It is their view that climate change has exacerbated food insecurity in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions.
Research has shown that adopting climate-resilient agricultural practices, such as dry-season farming and mulching, can improve household nutrition and food security.
The Chamber urges the Ministry to adopt a comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of food insecurity, some of which include galamsey, the non-availability of drought-resistant seeds, and poor funding of farmers, rather than providing temporary relief.
The Chamber again urges the government to establish a National Agriculture Risk Management Agency. This agency would serve as a proactive measure to prevent and mitigate risks, ensuring the sector’s resilience, stability, and sustainability in both good and bad seasons.
Additionally, an Agriculture Emergency Preparedness Strategy should be commissioned for Ghana. These two systems and structures are crucial for the country’s agricultural sector development. By establishing these forward-looking agencies and strategies (National Agriculture Risk Management Agency and Agriculture Emergency Preparedness Strategy), Ghana can ensure a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector, better equipped to manage risks and respond to emergencies.
“We wish to reiterate that research shows that the adoption of improved agricultural technologies can increase productivity and income for farmers.”
However, they posed questions to the government for clarity:
What level of technical planning went into and led to this decision by the government?How does this distribution align with the overall food security and agricultural development strategy for Ghana?
What criteria were used to identify the 800,000 farmers, and how will the grants be distributed fairly and efficiently?
How will this short-term solution address the long-term effects of climate change and agricultural productivity in Ghana?
Is the distribution of food grants within the Ministry’s role and mandate, or should other agencies be involved?
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana further calls on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to reconsider its approach and adopt sustainable solutions that promote food security, productivity, and resilience.
It is the Chamber’s hope that, as a key stakeholder, their suggestions and recommendations will be integrated into the solutions being offered by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).
