UWR women petition Ministry on marginalisation of groundnuts

Some Women groups who are into groundnuts cultivation in the Upper West Region have petitioned the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to include groundnuts in the “Block Farming” concept to help eradicate poverty.

Presenting the petition through the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council in Wa at the weekend, the group said the inclusion of groundnuts cultivation in the concept, would address malnutrition among children, reduce rural urban migration among women, especially those from the Northern regions, and promote food security in the rural communities

According to them, groundnuts stand to eradicate poverty when it is promoted, and appealed to the Ministry to also find market for the crop which has the potential of increasing income generating activities of women.

The women say they are unhappy that despite the huge potential that the crop has, it did not enjoy relevant government subsidies.

Alhaji Alhassan Issahaku, Acting Chief Director of the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council, who received the petition on behalf of the Regional Minister, Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, urged the women to identify crops and other businesses that would thrive and bring them to the notice of the Government for support.

He said the Government would look into their petition and take appropriate measures to support their cause to enhance their livelihoods.

The Rural Organisation of Women Farmers and Agro-Processing Development, a non-governmental organisation, advocating gender equity in agriculture and support for alternative livelihoods, is the mouthpiece of the group in the Region.

Mr. Yanaa Yahaya, Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, called on the Ghana Food Procurement Agency and the National Food Buffer Company Limited to collaborate with Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a matter of urgency to address the concerns of the women.

He said chemical fertilizers for groundnuts had not been part of the Government’s fertilizer subsidy and the National Food Buffer Company Limited had not worked out any marketing strategy as it had done for others.**