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The livelihoods of more than 100,000 soybean farmers in Northern Ghana hang in the balance as they grapple with the repercussions of a ban on the export of their produce. Expressing deep concern, these farmers highlighted the adverse effects of the government’s decision to prohibit the export of certain commodities, notably rice, maize, and soybeans, which has particularly impacted soybean farmers.
Facing challenges in selling their harvests, many soybean farmers find themselves unable to sustain their operations, leading to significant financial losses. Alhaji Jibiliru Nankpa, a soybean farmer from Pluma village in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West Region, emphasized the broader implications of this ban. He stressed that not only were the 100,000 farmers directly affected, but also numerous stakeholders across the soybean value chain were at risk of losing their livelihoods if the government did not reconsider its stance.
Speaking during the Annual Planning and Review workshop of the Sustainable Soybean Production in Northern Ghana (SSPiNG) project in Tamale, Alhaji Nankpa highlighted the urgent need for action. The workshop, spanning three days, aimed to evaluate the project’s progress in 2023 and devise strategies for enhancing implementation in 2024. Attendees included Deputy Directors from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, District and Municipal Heads of Department of Agriculture from 16 beneficiary districts and municipalities in northern Ghana, farmers, aggregators, Yara Ghana, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and other value chain actors from the five northern regions.
The SSPiNG project, designed to sustainably increase soybean production to meet rising national demand and uplift rural households’ incomes while enhancing food security, is a collaborative effort involving IITA, Yara Ghana, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Wageningen University and Research, Felleskjopet Rojaland Agder in Norway, and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).
The ban on soybean and maize grain exports, implemented through a Legislative Instrument in August 2020, aimed to bolster food security and boost local poultry and livestock production. However, Alhaji Nankpa argued that the ban on soybean exports had backfired, adversely affecting farmers’ incomes and deterring further investment in the sector despite its significant economic potential.
While acknowledging the challenges faced by farmers, Alhaji Nankpa expressed gratitude for the support provided by the SSPiNG project and other partners, which had alleviated some of the burdens. However, he urged the government to reconsider the export ban to enable the sector to contribute meaningfully to economic recovery and farmers’ livelihoods.
Professor Samuel Adjei-Nsiah, Coordinator of the SSPiNG project, highlighted Ghana’s increased soybean production, indicating a surplus for potential export. However, he emphasized the need to enhance internal processing capacity to maximize the value of soybeans and meet domestic demand, particularly in the poultry industry.
Currently engaging around 150,000 smallholder farmers across the five northern regions, the SSPiNG project employs improved technologies and supply chain information dissemination to enhance productivity and market access. Mr. Kudjoe Agbenyega, Chief Finance Officer of Yara Ghana, reassured farmers of the availability of fertilizer and other Yara products for the upcoming farming season, offering a ray of hope amid uncertain times.
