The Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness (GCA) has suggested to government to register smallholder farmers for the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) scheme.
Anthony Selorm Kwesi Morrison, a senior official at the Chamber, who spoke to BUSINESS GUIDE after the May Day celebrations in Accra, said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration must do everything possible to promote the welfare of farmers nationwide.
He said government should focus on a full rollout of an agriculture insurance programme that would cushion smallholder farmers from the harsh weather and economic conditions.
According to him, even though there were lots of smallholder farmers in the hinterlands whose contributions to the food production needs of the country were very significant, their living conditions are awful.
He said while many smallholder farmers face difficulties, some middlemen in the agric sector continue to benefit at the expense of the poor farmers.
The development, he said, must be tackled by the Akufo-Addo administration, which intends to promote agriculture.
Mr Selorm said Ghana does not have any clear policy targeting smallholder farmers in terms of agribusiness.
Earlier in a release issued to the media, Mr Selorm indicated: “It’s an undeniable fact that every nation requires clear sustainable national policy which drives its sustainable development programmes and it’s in this vein that we employ the government to look at national policy on agribusiness in Ghana.”
Meanwhile, the Chamber has commended government for the bold initiative to boost agriculture sector in Ghana under the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ programme which was launched recently in the Brong Ahafo Region by the President.
By Melvin Tarlue