The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Bismark Tetteh, has criticized government’s decision to ban the export of key grains, calling it premature and lacking proper stakeholder consultation.
Mr. Tetteh pointed out that PFAG had expected the government to introduce complementary measures to support farmers amid the ban, noting that while farmers have been advised to contact agricultural or district directors for assistance, the prices at which their produce will be purchased have not been clarified.
The ban, which affects maize, rice, and soybeans, was announced by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, as a measure to ensure national food security in response to severe droughts impacting agricultural production in eight regions of Ghana.
However, during an appearance on Joy News, Mr. Tetteh expressed concerns about the ban’s impact on farmers stating “This is not the first time the government has attempted to announce a ban on cereals, especially maize and soybeans.”
“You will notice that whenever such bans are announced, farmers suffer from low prices. The ban limits the number of buyers available, forcing farmers to sell at lower prices that do not cover their production costs.”
“What is the guarantee that when the farmers go, the prices they would be offered are fair?” Mr. Tetteh questioned. The best approach would have been to set a minimum price at which the government is ready to buy. If farmers know the price is competitive, there would be no motivation to sell outside the country when they can sell domestically and still make a profit.” he noted
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