President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans by government to introduce a minimum recommended price for agricultural produce each year, aimed at protecting farmers from market fluctuations and ensuring fair returns.
Speaking during the sod-cutting ceremony for the Farmer Services Centre at Takoratwene in the Afram Plains, the President said the policy will provide farmers with income security and strengthen confidence in the agricultural sector.
“Government will introduce a minimum recommended price each year”.
This means that farmers will be guaranteed a fair price for their produce, often higher than prevailing market prices,” he stated.
President Mahama further highlighted the role of the National Buffer Stock Company in supporting farmers and stabilising food supply across the country.
“Through the National Buffer Stock Company, we have already taken steps to support this vision. Last year, we allocated 200 million cedis to purchase food for schools.
This year, we have increased that amount to 300 million cedis, and we stand ready to provide additional funding when necessary,” he explained.
The President also assured farmers of government’s commitment to prioritising local production, revealing that no new permits have been issued for maize imports.
“Let me also assure you that we have not issued any new permits for maize imports. The stocks from previous years are still sufficient, and our focus is to support local farmers and boost domestic production,” he said.
Addressing concerns arising from last year’s bumper harvest, which led to reduced market prices and financial losses for some farmers, President Mahama announced immediate relief measures.
“We recognise that last year’s bumper harvest brought challenges, with some farmers incurring losses due to low prices”.
“In response, government will, for this year, provide fertilizers free of charge to farmers, instead of the usual subsidised rates, to help ease their burden,” he announced.
The measures form part of a broader government strategy to enhance agricultural productivity, stabilise farmer incomes and ensure long-term food security in Ghana.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
