Farmers urged to give accurate information on agric census

Given accurate information for data gathering has been identified by researchers as very crucial in identifying social problems and prescribing solutions. 

In is in this regard that, farmers in the Upper East Region has been encouraged to give accurate information to officers of the Statistical Service in the ongoing nationwide Agricultural census.

This among others will enable policy makers to formulate credible data to streamline the short falls of the government’s planting for and Jobs policy rolled out in the agricultural sector. 

The planting for food programme is aimed at boosting productivity in order to achieve food security in the country.  

Small holder farmers in communities of the Upper East Region have indicated that in the 2017 farming season, they were marginalized under the Planting for food and jobs PFJs programme. 

According to the farmers the programme benefited the rich and commercial farmers rather than the poor farmers. 

This was part of issues raised during the educational campaign tour on the Agriculture Census facilitated by the Information Service department in the communities in the region. 

They also complained that the seeds and fertilizer subsidy did not get to them on time. Some of the communities visited were Nyariga, Sumbrungu, Sirirgu, among others. 

In an interview with GBC online, the focal person in charge of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, PFAG,  Rev John Akaribo said, the Agricultural census exercise was to enable government know the number of people who are into Agriculture and to plan well for them. 

Rev Akaribo added that the PFJs policy introduced last year with the 50% subsidy on fertilizer to farmers was very good but there were some challenges regarding adequate information and the quality of seed provided. 

He therefore appealed to the government to ensure that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture put stringent measures in place this crop season to ensure that every farmer benefit. 

Regarding challenges and whether some of the farmers were really marginalized, the focal person gave an affirmative answer. 

A 65 year old farmer, Mr. Joe Abaare, from the Nyariga community near the Bolgatanga municipality, who has been farming for the past 30 years, noted that the programme when implemented devoid of politics and favoritism would help achieve its intended purposes. 

Deputy Director of ISD in charge of Media Liaison, Mrs. Esther Codjoe Amissah, assured the farmers that their concerns would be forwarded to the government and entreated them to actively get involved in the ongoing   agriculture census. 

The Regional Information Officer, Nelson Mba, advised the farmers to ensure that they register with the intervention on time and to also pay their debts for the subsidy they benefited under the programme during the 2017 farming season. 

Story by GBC Emmanuel Akayeti                                                             

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