Peasant Farmers Association donates inputs to vegetable farmers

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), the nation’s apex farmer-based association has donated farm inputs to smallholder vegetable farmers at Chiraa in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region. 
 
The farmers received 55 bottles of organic pesticides, five knapsack sprayers, and four soil testing kits to empower and equip them with technical and logistical support to enhance productivity. 
 
According to the PFAG, the donation aligned with the implementation of the project titled, “Enhancing vegetable productivity and Market Linkages to improve upon job creation and sustained incomes from smallholder farmers in Ghana” being executed by the association. 
 
The project is being funded by the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) and the Mastercard Foundation. 
 
Speaking at a short ceremony held at Chiraa, Mr Anthony Marfo, the Sunyani West Municipal Focal Person of the PFAG, said the presentation was to complete the earlier support extended to the farmers at the start of the farming season. 
 
 Already the association has presented cabbage, tomatoes, pepper seeds, and organic fertilizer among others to the farmers. 
 
Mr Marfo explained that PFAG was undertaking a feasibility survey to initiate processes of supplying to the farmer groups two solar pumping machines to boost their farming activities, especially during dry seasons. 
 
He noted that the association sought to give a life of dignity to the peasant farmers, most especially the women and youth farmers who were vulnerable to shocks and located in hard-to-reach communities. 
 
Mr Marfo explained that the support from the association would greatly cushion the economic activities of the farmers and thereby lessen their initial investment cost since vegetable production was cost intensive. 
 
“The support will empower the vegetable farmers in the area to expand their farm sizes to contribute to Ghana’s effort to become self-sufficient in vegetable production,” he stated, explaining that the overall goal of the project was to improve the livelihoods of smallholder vegetable farmers. 
 
Mr Marfo said women and youth farmers were targeted and to support them increase vegetable production and market access, create new jobs along the agricultural value chain, and thereby contribute to food and nutritional security. 
 
That would reduce poverty and sustain livelihoods, he added, saying the initiative was in line with measures to curb the frequent importation of tomatoes and onion from Burkina Faso and Mali, create jobs for the people and complement the government’s initiatives in the agricultural sector. 
 
Dr Benjamin Kwadwo, the Programmes Officer, and member of the PFAG, said job creation in the agriculture sector was of great essence to boost the local economy. 
 
Describing the project laudable, he said its implementation had created a couple of direct and indirect jobs in the area. 
 
He observed that effective farmer-based coordination at the local level was much needed to build consensus on access to market issues, negotiations with traders and middlemen, bargaining skills to help the farmers get returns on their investments. 
 
That will further secure them sustained linkages to sell directly to final consumers in the bid to eliminate the activities of myriad chain actors’ challenges. 
 
Dr Sarfo indicated that the project was being implemented in 10 agricultural districts, namely, Kessena Nankana West and East, Ada West and East, Techiman Municipal, Fanteakwa North and South, Ellembelle, North Dayi and Sunyani West. 
 
He said similar donations would be made in all those districts to empower the vegetable farmers to improve productivity and crop yields. 
 
Mrs Louisa Asantewaa, an Agricultural Officer at the Berekum Municipal Directorate, sensitized the farmers on marketing, consumer demands, market negotiations, and linkages. 
 
She urged the farmers to always endeavour to conduct their own market survey and to meet consumers’ demand needs, saying that would enable them to rake in profits. 
 
Madam Ruth Sey, a cabbage farmer, thanked the association and the Kosmos Innovation Center for their continuous support. 
GNA