Ghanaian farmers need agricultural credit – Group

A trade and agriculture policy advocacy group, has observed that inadequate funding and difficulty in accessing agricultural credit for farmers had resulted  in low agricultural productivity in Ghana.

Mr Ibrahim Akanbilla, National Coordinator of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC), said that farmers needed credit to be able to increase productivity.

He made the observation at a workshop on the GTLC’s 2012 Agro-Policy Performance Barometer for 50 vegetable farmers from Derma, Techimantia and Bechem, at Abesim near Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Agro-Policy Performance Barometer is a system designed by the GTLC to monitor implementation of the Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP) by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the country.

The Government is spending approximately GH¢1,532 million on the five-year programme, which ends in 2015.

Mr Akanbilla called for an increase in the number of agricultural extension officers to help farmers acquire knowledge in best agriculture practices.

Mr Lambert Luguniah, Acting Programme Manager, GTLC, noted that vegetable farmers depended much on external buyers due to lack of storage and processing facilities.

He therefore, urged government to revamp the various tomato factories in the country.

Source: GNA