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| Charles Nyaaba, Programme Officer of PFAG |
According to the association, government agreed with small holder farmers to give them farm inputs while they pay 25 percent in cash, and another 25 percent in farm produce.
But speaking to Citi Business News after a press conference, a Programme Officer of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Charles Nyaaba said the new decision taken by government demonstrates bad faith, hence government must reconsider the decision and stick to the initial agreement.
“The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) on behalf of smallholder farmers in Ghana expresses our utmost disappointment with the government for its decision to reject in-kind repayment for input support under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme”.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture gave the directive in a letter, to Directors of Agriculture at both Regional and District, on 16th November 2017.
“This is in bad faith and seeks to breach the agreement between government, through the ministry, and beneficiaries of the programme, prior to its inception,” he stressed.
Mr. Nyaaba explained that the beneficiaries, prior to the inception of the programme were told by the Agricultural Minister and his representatives at the Regional and District level of 50 percent input support of which farmers were to make a down payment of 25 percent and the other 25 percent to be paid in cash or in-kind (using produce to pay).
He recalled that there were several meetings with District Directors of agriculture and the beneficiaries to discuss repayment modalities of which in-kind repayment were further reiterated.
“In September 2017, there were other several meetings with District Directors of agriculture across the ten regions of Ghana with farmers, on repayment modalities and the same repayment modalities were emphasized”.
He stated that many farmers relied and bought into the idea as it was a way of addressing the problem of market access, reduce post-harvest losses and address problem of low prices due to glut of mass sales after harvest to offset credit.
“It is therefore surprising, shocking and disappointing for the Minister of Agriculture to take a unilateral decision and issue a directive to all Regional and District Directors of Agriculture to receive repayment only in cash without re-negotiating with farmers. This is a serious breach of agreement and unfair treatment on the part of government”.
“We are by this calling on the Minister to as a matter of urgency to reconsider the decision and stick to the initial agreement,” he maintained.
Source: citibusinessnews.com
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