The New Juaben South Municipal (NJSM) Department of Agriculture has established a Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Farmers’ Market to promote the selling of farm products at a relatively cheaper price to customers.
The new market has aided farmers around the 55 settlements of NJSM, including Nyamekrom, Baakokrom, Densoano, Ada, Old Estate, Osabene, Kentenkren, Ntronan, Agavenya, and Atekyem to get a location for the exhibition of their farm products for sale every Tuesday and Thursday.
These farm products includes Plantains, cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, palm nuts, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, goats, and chicken birds.
Ms. Tharzia Numako Akwetey, the Director for the Department of Agriculture of the NJSM in an interview disclosed that, the sale of farm products under the PFJ at a relatively cheaper price to customers was an initiative introduced by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
“We received a directive from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to replicate the assembling of farm produces under the Planting for Food and Jobs to sell as did in Accra.”
Ms. Tharzia Numako Akwetey
However, Ms. Akwetey revealed that the NJSM Department of Agriculture created a PFJ farmers’ market away from the main market to allow farmers to trade without any interference from the market queens in the main market.
“It was difficult for new traders to get into the main market to trade due to the demands of the market queens. We want the farmers to be able to sell at lower prices and still make their profits.”
Ms. Tharzia Numako Akwetey
According to Ms. Akwetey, the agricultural officers will have more time to carry out their tasks rather than assembling farm produce to sell to residents at the assembly, as it was done in Accra’s market square.
She praised the Eastern Regional Director of Food and Agriculture and the Mayor of New Juaben South for their contributions and assistance in creating a new market for farmers.
Good Implications Of The PFJ Farmers’ Market
A survey conducted between the PFJ farmers’ market and the major marketplaces in Koforidua indicated that, the prices of agricultural produce offered in the new market were cheaper than in the main market.
During an interaction with Ms. Elizabeth Kwakye, a public servant in NJSM said that, the prices of a bucket of onions sold for Gh¢70 at the main market was sold for Gh¢60 at the new market and palm nuts sold for Gh¢15 and Gh¢20 in the main market, was sold for Gh¢10 and Gh¢15 in the new market.
Ms. Kwakye further said a bunch of plantain which could be sold at a higher price in the main market was being sold at lower prices such as Gh¢15.
“Prices here are better than the main market even though things are expensive these days.”
Ms. Elizabeth Kwakye
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