The Soya Value Chain Association of Ghana has held a one-day consultative stakeholder meeting in Tamale, in the Northern Region.
The meeting was convened to engage farmers and input dealers on how inputs such as fertilizer can be supplied in a sustainable manner.
The association also used the forum to sensitise actors on its 2023 action plan, and to hold consultations with smallholder farmers, processors and feed millers to address issues raised at the recent press conference in Tamale on low soya bean prices.
The Executive Secretary of the Soya Value Chain Association of Ghana, Yaw Afrifa, indicated that smallholder farmers have had challenges accessing quality soya seed due to financial difficulties, and that with support from its certified seed growers and input dealers, smallholder farmers are guaranteed a reliable and sustainable supply of seed and fertilizer.
According to him, the association works with lead farmers and input dealers to provide credit facilities to smallholders to enable them to cultivate larger acreages.
“Despite the Government of Ghana’s intervention with the supply of subsidised fertilizers, timely access to this critical input remains a major challenge in the crop production process for smallholder farmers. With the support of our partners at GIZ Ghana and the AgriBusiness Office, the SVCA has met with stakeholders in Tamale to explain the efforts underway to provide a long-lasting solution to these challenges and concerns within the soya value chain.”
Mr. Afrifa stressed that in spite of massive gains over the years, the operations of the soya value chain in Ghana have come under threat from foreign buyers flooding the market.
“The foreigners buy soyabeans directly from the farm gates, which results in price hikes of the produce. It is also to check this threat, regarding the production of quality seeds and supply of farm inputs, that the Association convened the Tamale meeting.”
He disclosed that the Soya Value Chain Association of Ghana had resolved that government should expedite action on the development of the National Strategy Plan that will serve as the blueprint for government and all stakeholders in the value chain; as a matter of urgency reconstitute the committee which controls the Restrictions on Exportation of Grains Regulations 2022 (L.I. 2467) to give access and control of the committee to value chain actors; and direct the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to increase consultations with value chain actors on the issue of soyabean.
Source: DailyGuide Network