Ghana’s food security situation likely to worsen in coming months – Peasant Farmers

By Kofi Ahovi Last updated Mar 18, 2022

Ghana, food security, Peasant Farmers — Mwanaidi Rhamdani (orange shirt) works with Maria Mtele (green shirt) in an orange-fleshed sweet potato field in Mwasonge, Tanzania. Maria is a mother of 5 and farmer in Tanzania who relies on farming for food and income. Through a local agricultural program, Maria learned about a new crop of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, specifically bred to thrive in sub-Saharan Africa. Mwanaidi taught her about soil irrigation, crop multiplication, and how to get her crops to market. She is now a leader in her farming group and teaches others what she?s learned. Maria increased her families? income and she is using this new income to build a new, sturdy home.

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana is warning that Ghana’s food security situation is likely to worsen if urgent action is not taken.

Ghana declined from 78th position in 2016 to 82nd position in 2021 on the Global Food Security Index published by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The caution by the farmers’ association, comes on the back of recent assurances of a thriving agriculture sector by the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto.

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In an interview with Citi Business News, the Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Mr. Charles Nyaaba urged the Agric Ministry to increasingly engage stakeholders like his to ensure effective solutions for the improvement of the sector are developed and implemented.

We are saying that we are likely to record a worsened food security situation in the coming months because food prices at the farm-gate have been increasing significantly since we started harvesting. At the beginning of the harvest season, (that is in October), a 100 kg of maize was going for less than GHC200. Last week, that had increased to GHC 240, yesterday it was GHC 260, today it is GHC 270 even before you bring it to the nearest market. Now, apart from the price increase on a daily basis, there is even a shortage.”

So we tried to draw the attention of the Ministry to find solutions to the problem, only for the Minister to come out and try to discredit all of the work in the sector. Our message is that the Ministry needs to open up and work more with farmers to ensure we all arrive at effective solutions that improve the fortunes of the sector,” he added.