Davies Narh Korboe
The National Farmers and Fishermen Award Winners’ Association Ghana (NFFAWAG) has praised the Board and Management of Ghana Export Promotions Authority (GEPA) for their support towards the promotion of coconut, cashew and vegetables to aid the government’s planting for export development agenda.
Chairman of NFFAWAG, Davies Narh Korboe said GEPA has been helping farmers, who are into coconut, cashew, pineapple and vegetable plantations, in its goal to achieve growth in export to rake in more foreign exchange for the country.
GEPA as part of the effort to resuscitate the coconut industry has already provided 500,000 disease-resistant seedlings to boost production and promote products with export potential.
Speaking at the 37th National Farmers’ Day celebration held in Cape Coast last Friday, Mr. Korboe singled out the Board and Management of GEPA for special praise for resuscitating the coconut industry by helping farmers to fight the Cape St. Paul Wilt Disease.
He said the effort has helped to increase coconut production for export since the product has been in high demand on the international market.
“I wish to take the opportunity to congratulate and thank the Board and Management of Ghana Cocoa Board for sponsoring a new award – ‘The National Young Cocoa Farmer’ and capping it with the Cocoa Pension Scheme,” he said, adding “it is an inspiring initiative that addresses ways to reverse the aging trend in cocoa production in Ghana.”
The NFFAWAG Chairman recalled in 2017 when the Ministry of Food and Agriculture introduced the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative that was overwhelmingly endorsed by farmers nationwide.
“We have, notwithstanding erratic rainfall patterns, witnessed growth in food production in the country with movements of grains and legumes across our borders in greater volumes,” he stated.
“This is attributable to the PFJ which has to a considerable extent facilitated and increased access by farmers to fertilisers and improved certified seeds. The same can be said of the new initiatives spearheaded for the fisheries sector and various development authorities set up by the government to support its developmental agenda.”
Mr. Korboe said farmers in the country recognise the “insidious effect of the COVID-19 on our economy, especially on the agricultural sector. This has resulted in shortages of fertiliser coupled with increasing prices.”
“Whilst we do admit that there is a large push of global dynamics (prices of natural gas, logistics disruptions), we believe that the government can also be innovative in cushioning the effect,” he said.
He also said NFFAWAG wants the financial institutions to find innovative solutions for the agricultural sector, while the government takes steps to streamline the process of fertiliser distribution to ensure that the farmers get access.
The association again called on the government to expedite action on the production of synthetic fertilisers in the country, and suggested the setting up of agriculture emergency development fund to set aside a credit line called Agricultural Machinery Credit Commitment to develop major agriculture roads to avoid harvest problems caused by logistical challenges.
He urged the government to support commercial farmers for them to create better access to regional and international markets, and commit to a long term sector strategy for better food systems as the nation embraces the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
By Ernest Kofi Adu