The President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Dr Charles Nyaaba, has warned of an impending food crisis in Ghana, attributing it to the government’s failure to provide necessary support to farmers.
Commenting on the recent development of a severe drought, which has wreaked havoc on farming communities across the country, particularly in the Northern Regions, Dr Nyaaba expressed deep concerns over the government’s unfulfilled promises and ineffective agricultural policies.
“We are facing a serious crisis. The current drought has affected farming communities, and the government’s promises of support have not materialized”.
Dr Charles Nyaaba, President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG),
His remarks highlight the growing frustration among farmers, who feel abandoned by a government that had pledged to bolster the agricultural sector through various initiatives.
Criticism of the Planting for Food and Jobs Program
Expressing disappointment over some of the current government’s flagship projects targeted to boost agriculture, the President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Dr. Nyaaba criticised the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program.
Launched with intention to boost food production and create jobs, however, Dr. Nyaaba, contended that the program has been a resounding failure.
“The only thing the farmer needed was land, but the government has not provided the necessary support,” he lamented.
He further criticized the quality of fertilizers provided under the program, the poor timing of their distribution, and the excessive politicization of the initiative.
“The fertilizer quality is not there, the timing is poor, and they have over-politicized the whole thing,” Dr Nyaaba stressed, lamenting the growing disillusionment within the farming community, where expectations have not met the reality of the government’s support.
Disappointment in the One Village, One Dam Policy
Additionally, Dr. Nyaaba expressed his disappointment with another key government policy—the One Village, One Dam initiative.
According to him, the initiative intended to provide small-scale irrigation systems to support farming in the northern regions of Ghana, with the aim to mitigate the effects of droughts and ensure year-round farming could not materialized.
“The dams never served the purpose for which the project was launched. Farmers are disappointed, and I don’t want to talk about it because it will increase their blood pressure”.
Dr Charles Nyaaba, President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG)
Dr Nyaaba underscored the frustration of many farmers who feel that the policy has failed to deliver on its promises, leaving them vulnerable to the vagaries of climate change.
When asked if he had communicated these concerns to the government, Dr. Nyaaba confirmed ongoing discussions but expressed frustration with the lack of tangible outcomes.
“Me and the government, we talk every day. Even this morning, I talked to them. They are aware of the problem, but the only thing they know is that they are working on something in the pipeline for farming. And that thing never reaches us”.
Dr Charles Nyaaba, President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG)
Call for Immediate Government Intervention
In light of the worsening drought and its impact on agriculture, Dr. Nyaaba called on the government to take immediate action to avert a full-blown food crisis.
He urged the government to provide emergency support to farmers, including free inputs, mechanization, and improved road infrastructure to help farmers recover from the drought.
“It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure that we get more irrigation facilities to store water. They need to come in to support us,” Dr. Nyaaba emphasized.
His call for more irrigation facilities underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions to Ghana’s agricultural challenges, particularly in the face of increasing climate
