Ghana’s Economy Would Grow Beyond Expectation If Gov’t Decides To Prioritize The Agricultural Sector – Concerned Cashews Farmer.
A concerned cashew farmer in the Bono East Region, Mr Kwame Enoch Baffoe has observed that the country has the opportunity to develop its economy beyond expectation if priority is given to the agricultural sector.
Mr Baffoe hinted that agriculture is the backbone or life line of every economy and therefore it is the responsibility of the government to come out with policies that could encourage farmers and stakeholders to develop more interest to carry out the job.
Speaking to the Correspondent in an exclusive interview in Kumasi, Mr Enoch Baffoe said farming carrier is though a lucrative profession, challenges confronting farmers these days give the impressions that the business is a monstrous one.
Citing some challenges that have been confronting number of cashew farmers in the Bono East Region, Baffoe recounted several ordeals the farmers are undergoing through before they can come out with their farm produce.
He mentioned lack of financial support, farmers education, labour, farm equipment, ready market and sales aspects, warehouses and preservation systems, less attention from the Agricultural external officers among others.
He mentioned towns like Panin Amisssh, Gyeimah, Pandu,Amoma,Kranka, Techiman,Nkoranza among other towns in the region that have been actively engaging in the cashew farming but lack of incentives have been scaring them from the job.
He said despite the fact that the farmers are confronted with numerous challenges, they manage to produce tons of cashew annually that generate foreign income to the government chest.
Baffoe hinted that if proper encouragement are given to farmers in not only the Bono East Region, but also the entire regions across the country, the youth would be attracted to the farming venture to help curb urban migration in search for non existing white color jobs.
At the same time it would also encourage farmers to produce food in abundance to the level of export to help government to generate foreign currency to support the economy.
Mr Baffoe indicated that though a pro-state organization called T.Crop Authority is set up to oversee the welfare of the cashew farmers, its functions are not having impact on the people due to lack of good policies
The concerned farmer therefore draws government attention to the challenges confronting the farmers and come out with policies that could help stabilize the system for the benefit of the entire country.
