Mr. Emmanuel Adzawu, an Agri-Expert, a farmer, and a member of the Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness, has urged the Government of Ghana to increase grain production to avert shortages instead of banning grain export.
Grain scarcities have been in the headlines, as many Ghanaian poultry farmers have decried maize shortages. To curb the situation, the Government of Ghana extended the ban on grain export. However, some agri-experts believe that the Ghana government can do better.
Speaking to the Vaultz news, Mr. Adzawu quizzed why grain demand is high in Ghana yet its production is low.
“I have lived my entire life trying to understand Ghanaians and Africans. If there is a commodity so high in demand, why should we not capitalize on its production to create wealth for the people? Ghana can boost grain production by 20-fold. Why are we sitting and complaining?”
Mr. Adzawu- Agri Expert
The Northern Development and Democratic Institute (NDDI) predicted in a recent interview that Ghana will likely face severe food shortages and hunger in the last quarter of 2022, stretching further into 2023. Based on the prediction, NDDI explained that the cause of acute food shortages and hunger is as a result of the government not heeding the global warning on the looming food crisis.
Grain ban laudable but not sustainable
Contributing to NDDI’s predictions, Mr. Adzawu bemoaned the fact that the Government has remained adamant in boosting grain production despite it being the staple in most Ghanaian homes. He applauded the government for extending the ban on maize but stressed that it isn’t enough.
“The Ghanaian Government has extended a ban on grain exports. According to the government, the ban is to ensure food security and increase local poultry and livestock production. This initiative is laudable but a more sustainable approach needs to be looked at. Thus, by increasing grain production, we can export the surplus because that is a means of generating money for the country. Why ban a food commodity that is in high demand?”
Mr. Adzawu- Agri Expert
“Mr. Adzawu disclosed that not every farmer in Ghana is happy with the ban extension because they would get better prices if they could sell their crops outside of Ghana. If the government can’t control the price of farm inputs like fertilizers, how does it expect farmers to stay in business by lowering the cost of what they produce?” he quizzed.
Grain ban could create black market
Many farmers in Ghana fear the ban could create a black market if the Government fails to negotiate appropriately with the farmers which can worsen the situation, Mr Adzawu revealed.
Also, contributing to the discussion, the CEO of Super Farms and a member of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, advised that the government should instead increase the production of these grains and export the excess rather than ban the exportation of these commodities.
“I have a serious problem understanding the governance style of the Ghana Government. What direction does Government intend to move the people of this nation for wealth creation? There is a shortage of these crops and an eminently severe shortage ahead. That should be a better case for us as a nation to grab the opportunity to create wealth among the people. Ours is an Agrarian economy, and our strength is perfectly in crop cultivation. Here, there is not an iota of prosperity in the direction chosen by the Minister.”
CEO Super farms
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