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PFAG supports government’s decision to ban rice importation

Accra, Dec. 6 GNA –
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has supported government’s
decision to ban importation of rice by 2022.

The Association in
statement signed by Mr. Abdul- Rahman Mohammed, National President and Board
Chairman of PFAG has, therefore called for show of commitment and steps to be
put in place for immediate ban rather than wait until 2022.

It said adopting
Nigeria’s food importation ban concept would not only help to reduce Ghana’s
import bill, but create employment opportunities in Ghana and stabilise the
cedi.

“Concrete
measures need therefore, to be put in place to commence ban on imports such as
reduction in 2020 rice imports,” it added.

The statement
commended government for setting aside a day to appreciate the contribution of
farmers to the growth and development of the country.   

The 35th edition
of Farmer’s Day is on the theme: “Enhancing Small Scale Agriculture towards
Agribusiness Development.”

The Association has
therefore congratulated all smallholder farmers especially those, who would be
awarded prices at the local level.

It said government
should direct for institutional purchase of local rice by as the school feeding
programme, free SHS, the Military and Para institutions.

It said government
should mandate all banks to increase their loan portfolio with low interest
rate on agriculture.

The statement said,
critical issues on the eve of this year’s celebration have taken the spirit off
the theme.

It said smallholder
rice farmers, who were keen in agribusiness were apprehensive and despondent as
the rice they produced during the last crop season lies waste and possibly to
the vagaries of harmattan bush fires.

“Farmers are
confronted with lack of access to combine harvesters, lack of storage and
exploitation by traders, who have taken advantage of the desperate
situation,” he added.

It said the National
Food Buffer Stock had announced plans to mop up the surplus rice by providing
minimum guarantee prices to farmers, but has not materialised leaving the rice
farmers to their fate.

It said Ghanaian
farmers have proven their ability to produce enough rice to meet domestic
consumption.

The statement said
this was manifested by the drastic increase in rice production in 2019 of which
greater quantities still remain unharvested due to lack of harvesting equipment
and guaranteed market.

Unfortunately, only
34 per cent of Ghanaians consume Ghana rice, while 680, 000 tonnes of rice
costing $500 million is imported annually.

The Association
believes that the high appetite for imported rice has significantly contributed
to rice millers lacking market for Ghana rice leading to the current rice glut
in Northern Ghana.

“This
phenomenon if not addressed with the urgency it deserves, can worsen the
poverty situation of smallholder farmers and majority of rural people, who
still rank as the poorest in the country and thereby negatively impacting on
the successes the nation chalked in recent times on the campaign against
poverty and food insecurity,” it added.

The statement has
therefore recommended to government to explore new technologies to address
aflatoxin and other post-harvest challenges in rice production.

It said government
should bring storage facilities closer to rice farming areas by first
completing the One District, One Warehouse programme, commission the completed
ones and set up temporary cocoons in the communities.

GNA

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