Address post-harvest losses, Farmers

Kumasi, Dec 1, GNA - Some nominees for this year's National Best Farmers' Day awards have called for measures to stem the perennial problem of post-harvest losses.

The farmers said they were not happy that in spite of the high cost of farm inputs most of them, especially those in the hinterlands, find it difficult to market their produce as most of the crops perish not long after harvest.

They said since this development was a disincentive to boosting the agriculture sector, the government should foster closer collaboration with corporate bodies and stakeholders to evolve measures aimed at addressing the problem.

The award winners expressed their concern at separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency at a reception held in their honour by the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) in Kumasi. The reception formed part of activities marking this National Farmers' Day celebrations that is slated for Nkawie in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District.

Mr Kyeremeh Amankwaah, a tomato farmer from Tano South District of Brong-Ahafo, said this year 100 boxes of tomatoes he produced perished as a result of the non-availability of ready market. He said considering the high perishable rate of tomato and other vegetable crops, there was the need to build enough storage facilities to save farmers from hardships.

Mr Kwaku Ayuba, a pineapple farmer from the Mfantsiman District in the Central Region, said it was high time measures were stepped up to establish fruit processing factories to process perishable products. Mr Simon Abdullai, a seed producer from Krachi West District of the Volta Region, commended the government for adopting initiatives to develop the agriculture sector.

He called for the improvement of feeder roads to make it easy for farm produce to be carted to the market for sale after harvest. Alhaji Ibrahim Zakaria, an irrigation farmer of Tolon-Kunbungu District in the Northern Region, appealed to the government to build more irrigation dams in the country, especially in the three Northern Regions, which normally experience drought all year round.

Such efforts, he said, would also help to address the high rate of rural-urban migration as well as unemployment among the youth. Mrs Margaret Blay-Kainya, a coconut farmer from the Jomoro District of the Western Region, decried the high interest rates charged by most banks in the country, saying it deprived most farmers, especially women, the needed funds to expand their plantations.

Mr Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended the farmers for their dedicated service and commitment to duty that had facilitated the country's socio-economic development. Some 70 farmers across the country are expected to win awards in various categories of agriculture for their immense contribution in ensuring the growth of the sector at the National Farmers' Day celebrations. 01 Dec 06