By Mohammed Balu
Tumu (UWR), Nov. 22, GNA – Farmers in the Sissala East Municipality have appealed to the Ghana Meteorological Agency to furnish farmers with timely weather information on the rainfall patterns before the season starts.
They explained that if farmers were always furnished with timely weather information it helps plan well for the planting of their crops in the farming season.
They made the appeal during a roadshow organised by Farmerline for agriculture value chain actors towards empowering farmers to be sustainable in their farming activities at Tumu.
Alhaji Jibiliru Nankpa, the 2024 Upper West Regional Best Farmer said: “We will be happy to see the Meteorological Agency organise a big forum for farmers where the rainfall pattern of the year will be released to us, even if it required that we pay for the service.
“If I had the information, I would not have planted by early June this year, which caused damage to almost 400 acres of my maize field and other out-growers.
The information must be made known to every farmer,” he said.
He said market information was very helpful and that if farmers cultivate without weather information, it will amount to zero.
Alhaji Nankpa stressed the need for collaboration with all the agricultural value chain actors to reduce losses.
Mr Felix Gandaakuu, Farmerline Manager of the North-East sector of the Upper West Region said Farmerline marketplace combines digital tools, logistics, field agents, farm resources and agribusiness partnerships to support African farmers.
“Our technology platform- metadata, is licensed to development partners, global food traders and governments who use its customizable tools to improve the lives of farmers around the world”.
Farmerline also provides quality input (fertilizer and weedicides) supply services, mechanization services via asset financing for farmers to afford tractors, threshers, planters and training on best agronomic practices.
Mr Yakubu Adamu, Chairman of the Sissala area farmers network, said as partners in the agribusiness value chain, there would be a need for greater collaboration to promote their businesses.
He mentioned their challenges, including their inability to recover support for nuclear farmers and low female involvement, as worrying.
The chairman stated: “We shall continue to engage with other partners to get the best price for our produce, because of the network, we are attracted to other organisations. If we give input support and you don’t pay back, it becomes a setback to the organisation.”
Mr Mahama Salifu, the Sissala East Municipal Director of Agriculture advised farmers not to go by their traditional method of harvesting.
He said it was important for them to harvest early in order to protect their crops being consumed by bushfires.
Mr Fidelis Naapaneh, the Upper West Regional Manager of Ghana Market System and Resilience (MSR) said the roadshow event seeks to create business relationships and empower farmers and agribusinesses for a sustainable future.
“It focuses on how the private sector actors can take advantage of the opportunities created by Farmerline and other partners to network and share information,” he said.
Mr Naapaneh added that there was also an exhibition session where actors get the opportunity to market their products and services to a wide range of market actors, a learning session on how to add value to their produce and market them to the public.
“The whole idea is to bring farmers, SMEs, transporters and input dealers to network, exhibit and access wider markets, thereby helping to establish resilient businesspersons who are capable of standing on their own,” he explained.
GNA