By Mohammed Balu
Pulima, (UW/R), Nov. 18, GNA – Alhaji Jibiliru Nankpa, the immediate past Upper West Regional Best Farmer, has appealed to the government to establish mini-market hubs in major maize-producing communities to ensure that the recently announced GH₵200 million support package for farmers reaches them.
He said without structured buying centres, the government’s intervention funds risked not achieving their intended purpose and making the desired impact, as farmers would still be at the mercy of middlemen with low prices.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Pulima in the Sissala West District, Alhaji Nankpa expressed concern over the sharp decline in maize prices in the area.
The prices of maize in the Sissala area had dropped from GH₵500 per 100kg bag last year to as low as GH₵250 this year.
He described the situation as discouraging for farmers whose livelihoods depended heavily on cereal production.
Alhaji Nankpa questioned the effectiveness of the earlier GH₵100 million released by the President about a month ago to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to mop up excess maize.
He alleged that farmers in key maize-producing areas in the country had not witnessed any purchasing activity by the Buffer Stock Company.
“Did you see any buyer from Buffer Stock buying maize in Tumu, Gwollu, Welembelle or Funsi?
“We have even heard rumours that this new GH₵200 million may also not reach the farmers.
That is why we are appealing to the government to instruct Buffer Stock to set up mini-market hubs in communities like Tumu, Ejura, Gwollu, and Funsi so all farmers can sell their maize through the mini-markets”, Alhaji Nankpa.
He also called on the government to halt the importation of maize, stressing that such imports weakened local markets and discouraged rural farmers who already faced rising production costs and unstable prices.
Alhaji Nankpa also urged the authorities to act swiftly to safeguard the livelihoods of thousands of maize farmers across the country, especially in the northern sector, where cereal production remained a major economic activity.
He suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture could monitor the process to ensure poor farmers were able to sell their produce as directed by the President.
Alhaji Nankpa also called on the civil society to monitor the activities of Buffer Stock Company to help ensure the “poor” farmers benefit from its interventions.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/George-Ramsey Benamba