The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has attributed the current challenges facing farmers, particularly low farm prices, to bumper harvests and ongoing economic adjustments.
Addressing party supporters in the Upper West Region as part of his “Thank You” tour of the region, he explained that farmers are experiencing temporary income pressures due to a combination of factors affecting agricultural markets.
“Because of the changes that we are making in the economy, there are people who suffer some temporary difficulties. One of the group is farmers and so we are aware that particularly food crops farmers you are going through some difficulties now because of the bumper harvest,” he said.
Asiedu Nketia, further assured farmers that ongoing economic adjustments will eventually improve profitability in the agricultural sector, even if farm produce prices do not rise significantly in the short term.
“When the cost of inputs comes down, then the cost of making your farms will come down,” he stated. “And even if the selling prices of your products don’t rise quickly, you will still make profit,” he added.
The Chief of the Buru Traditional Council, Kuroru Abdul Rahama Kassim Baatah IV, appealed for a maize processing factory to be established in the Sissala area, preferably in Sissala West.
According to him, farmers are currently facing difficulties due to low sales of grains, which is affecting their incomes.
The chief added that such an initiative would enhance value addition within the district and reduce post-harvest losses.
“I make a passionate appeal to him to consider establishing a factory, one of these five factories in Sisala land, preferably Sisala West. I’m saying this because currently farmers are complaining of low sales of grains.
“If we have these factories, it will no longer be a worry. We will sell them to the factories. They will use them to process things for the same district to use,” the chief stated.
