Some grain farmers in the Northern Region have taken to the streets in a peaceful protest to draw government attention to the lack of a ready market for their produce.
The farmers, who cultivate mainly maize, rice, and sorghum, say large quantities of last year’s harvest are still sitting idle in warehouses because buyers have not shown up.
According to them, the situation has left many struggling to pay off debts incurred during the previous farming season.
“We are suffering,” lamented Abdulai Fuseini, a maize farmer from Savelugu.
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“Our grains are locked up, and yet we have to prepare our lands for the next season. Without money from sales, how do we buy fertiliser or pay our workers? ” The farmers carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Save the Local Farmer’ and ‘Stop the Smuggling, Buy Local Grains.”
The National Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association, Sayibu Braimah, accused smugglers of worsening the problem by flooding the market with cheap, substandard cereals brought in through unapproved routes.
“These smugglers do not pay a pesewa in tax, and yet they are collapsing local businesses,” he said. “We have written several petitions to the authorities, but nothing has been done.
If the government fails to act, we will have no choice but to stage a nationwide demonstration.”
Receiving the farmers’ petition, the Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
He noted that President Mahama has been briefed on the situation and that discussions are underway with the Minister of Agriculture to find sustainable solutions. “The government will not sit aloof while our hard-working farmers suffer,” he stated. “We are committed to finding lasting remedies to the market challenges facing our grain producers.”
