Of those who feed the nation but who are ‘the most hungry’
I often wonder who will champion the cause of small farmers as there is no likelihood of any children of the people in authority finding themselves among the ranks of such farmers. If that possibility existed, perhaps that would make them act pragmatically to improve the farmers’ situation.
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This week the potential contribution of farmers outside the cocoa class to the national economy was in focus again at Tono, Upper East Region. It follows a recent testimonial by an eminent official in Rome, Italy, about the substantial impact of small-scale farmers on the economy.
From Tono the news was that nine warehouses and four pack houses are being built in 12 communities in four regions – Northern, Upper East, Upper West and Brong-Ahafo. The warehouses will provide storage for cereals and legumes, while the pack houses will be used for the processing of fresh fruit, the Ghanaian Times of April 14 reported.
Part of a project under the Northern Rural Growth Programme, the facilities being constructed are to help combat post-harvest losses as well as assure farmers of good prices for their produce. At the Tono sod-cutting ceremony, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Dr Alhassan Yakubu Ahmed, spoke about the job creation and export opportunities of the venture funded by the African Development Bank.
The Tono ceremony reminded me of statements made in Rome recently, during a meeting of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Kanayo F. Nwanze, the IFAD President, reportedly gave high praise to small-scale farmers which it would be wonderful if our Ministry of Agriculture and those in charge of Ghana’s Farmers Day awards could factor into their decisions, in imaginative ways.
A Daily Graphic report of February18 quoted Mr Nwanze as saluting the “phenomenal rise” in Ghana’s vegetable exports. Furthermore, he challenged other countries, particularly in Africa, to follow Ghana’s example. Last year, the country exported more than 42,000 metric tonnes of vegetables, which was about four times the figure for 2009, the paper reported.
“This is good news for the economy and small-holder farmers.” He added that when he is asked about rural transformation, “I point to Africa and to countries such as Ghana.”
More significantly still, Mr Nwanze stated that “about 80 per cent of the food in developing countries was produced by small-scale farmers yet they remained the ones who were the most hungry. The key to reversing this situation is to invest in sustainable rural agriculture development.
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“In every area of development the first point of partnership must be the people themselves. Give them the tools and they will finish the job,” he added.
Are the small-scale and peasant farmers in Ghana, a backbone of the economy, being given “the tools”? As far as I know, even interpreted literally, they are still using the same type of farming implements of ancient times. Also, where there are loans for agriculture, how many small farmers qualify under the terms?
And after they have toiled to grow the food, overcoming all sorts of hazards, bringing the produce home presents another huge problem because of bad roads, high transport fares and, or, lack of transport.
Yet, even in localities described as mainly agricultural, one does not hear of innovative assistance to small farmers. For instance, why can’t the district assemblies organise a farmers transport system, to take farmers to their farms in the morning and transport them and their produce home in the evenings – for a moderate fare?
Why do such practical approaches seem to be beyond our decision-makers?
Successive governments have been lamenting the exodus of rural youth to the urban areas, the decrease in the number of people taking up farming, but little is done to improve the lives of small farmers or make life in rural communities more appealing.
Even when it comes to showing the nation’s appreciation to farmers, it is always the commercial farmers who get the top prizes that would make life for the deserving small farmers better and also attract others to go into farming.
Although for more than three decades Ghana has been celebrating its farmers through the annual Farmers Day, held in December, the ones who get the highest recognition and the major rewards are the big-time farmers.
They are rewarded with impressive prizes such as a house, car or tractor, although they are people of substance already, who clearly don’t need those incentives to continue doing what they do as they’re in commercial farming.
Anybody who has experience of rural life knows that small farmers are virtually killing themselves for family, community and country, but their earnings can never build them a house.
Thus it’s strange that our Farmers Day is not being used to attract new blood into farming, by giving small farmers better rewards – in the form of a house, a vehicle or tractor. What is the essence of celebrating the nation’s farmers if it’s not to serve as encouragement and attract new people, if it’s just to preach to the converted?
And there is no indication that this is going to change.
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Evidently, despite IFAD’s acknowledgement, that about 80 per cent of the food in developing countries is produced by small-holders, they are the most unrecognised and least rewarded.
As the IFAD President underscored, these are the ones whose contributions need to be appreciated, who need to be assisted.
Mr Nwanze has provided “the key” to tackling rural poverty, to unlocking the potential: investment in sustainable rural agriculture. Simply, he said: “give them the tools.”
When are we going to discard the ‘business-as-usual’ attitude and introduce creative ways to give encouragement to that crucial group, the small farmers, who are so deserving of the nation’s appreciation and realistic rewards?
(ajoayeboahafari@yahoo.com)
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