The Executive Director of Omanbapa AgriTech Company Limited, Mr. Bernard Oduro Takyi, has called on the government to intentionally invest in a buffer stock company to enhance farmers’ livelihoods.
Mr. Oduro Takyi stressed that food commodity prices have fallen, benefiting consumers but leaving farmers in penury.
Underscoring prices of commodities in notable markets like Techiman, Kaukudi in Kumasi, Agbogbloshie in Accra and other parts of the country, he said prices of food commodities are low, benefiting the consumers. Still, the farmers who toiled to produce the products do not enjoy any dividend.
He advised that through the Finance Ministry, the government should form a pricing mechanism policy that would deliberately focus on food prices to give fair prices to food producers, benefiting farmers irrespective of the food glut in the country.
He added that if such a policy is instituted and the buffer stock strengthened, it would enhance farmers’ livelihoods, which will motivate the youth to venture into agriculture.
He mentioned that agriculture should be a business, not a hobby. According to him, when the youth testify to improved living conditions of farmers, the youth would no longer travel to other countries to seek greener pastures.
“If this policy is adhered to, believe me, the percentage of agriculture’s contribution to the GDP in the years 2027 and 2028 will be overwhelmed,” he concluded.
