Sustain One Village, One Dam policy - Forest, farm producers to govt at Bolgatanga dialogue

The Ghana Federation of Forest and Farm Producers (GhaFFaP) has held its fourth national dialogue series in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region with a call on the government to sustain the One Village, One Dam (1V1D) policy to boost food production.

The National President of GaFFaP, Hajia Alima Sagito, said due to the devastating impact of climate change, it was important for the government to improve the 1D1V initiative to make water available to farmers, especially in northern Ghana to undertake all-year-round farming.

She indicated that the organisation was happy about the introduction of the policy as its essence was to make water readily available to farmers towards increasing crop production and ensure food security as well.

The two-day event brought together more than 100 participants in the agricultural value chain, including officials of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Commission and representatives of agencies and departments, among others.

The dialogue, organised through a collaboration with the Forestry Commission and the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies, was on the theme:

“Smallholder producer organisations access to finance, market linkages and social protection key to delivering sustainable climate resilience and green recovery”.

As part of the event, which was supported by the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF), there was an exhibition of products by some Forest and Farm Producer Organisations (FFPOs), as well as field trip to some farms.

Revamping

Hajia Sagito said despite the challenges associated with the 1V1D policy, it should not be abandoned but revamped so as to relieve farmers of their over-reliance on rainfall, adding, “Owing to the recent dry spell in the middle belt and the north leading to the destruction of crops, concrete measures must be taken in terms of water availability for the benefit of farmers.”

She mentioned further that aside from the dams, farmers needed simple water systems close to farms that could be used to irrigate the crops and that the government could consider such an initiative to support farmers in their agricultural business.

The Country Rep, Ghana Regional Lobby and Advocacy Coordinator, Agriterra West Africa, Habiba Nyarko Agyemang, urged farmers to form strong cooperatives to ensure their products met international standards.

She said due to the competitive nature of the agricultural value chain, it was important for farmers to come together and pool resources for their products to earn more income to improve their living standards.

She indicated that Peak Milk, with a huge market across the world, was produced by a group of farmers who put their resources together to process it for sale.

An official at the Directorate of Crop Services (DCS), MoFA, Yahaya Musah, called for effective collaboration between farmers in order to reap the needed benefits from the agricultural sector.

Writer’s email: gilbert.agbey@graphic.com.gh