We need subsidies and loans – V/R Best Farmer

Mr Michael Thompson Sedohia, 2014 Volta Regional Best Farmer on Friday said farmers in the country needed subsidies on fertilizer and fish feed to be able to meet local food demands.He said they also needed loan facilities to expand their ventures and ensure food sustainability.Mr Sedohia, 44, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the Ho Municipal and Volta Regional Farmers’ Day at Matse, near Ho, has 72 acres of vegetable and fruit farms and also into animal husbandry.The celebration was on the theme, “Eat what you grow.”Earlier in the week, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, Minister of Food and Agriculture reportedly entreated farmers in the country to gradually wean themselves off subsidies on farming inputs and agrochemical products, but Mr Sedohia who hails from Tegbi in the Keta Municipal area said Ghanaian farmers could not do without those subsidies.He said at best, government should establish loan facilities for farmers, which should replace the subsidies.Mr Sedohia explained that financing agriculture remained the greatest challenge to Ghanaian farmers, especially small scale ones and underscored the need for government’s regular support to the sector.He said for instance, apart from the country’s energy problem which affected the operation of irrigation farms, small scale farmers had it very tough raising enough money to invest in the sector in the year, which affected yields negatively.Mr Sedohia was emphatic that farmers in the country could feed the citizenry if there were storage facilities and ready market and urged government to help in that direction and stop the importation of agriculture products being produced in the country.Mrs Helen Ntoso, Volta Regional Minister called for frequent agriculture trade shows to grow market for local products.She also called on individuals to keep a “home/kitchen garden” for self-sufficiency.“Growing our own food is a brilliant way to save money rather than spending hundreds of cedis in grocery shops buying imported food, which most likely pose danger to your health and that of your family,” Mrs Ntoso stated.Mr Samuel Kofi Larbi, Volta Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, said the region was doing well in rice and cassava cultivation and urged the youth to consider going into such ventures.He said the Region also has a comparative and competitive advantage in pineapple production and advised farmers to explore that opportunity.Mr Larbi said the Region produced far less than half as much fish as it needed due to the use of sophisticated and unapproved fishing gears and methods but said the situation was being addressed.He was hopeful that despite the challenges, the Region would perform better in 2015 and “unearth” its potentials.A total of 25 farmers were awarded including Mr Sedohia, who had a tricycle, wellington boots, a water pump, a flat-screen television and a carton of agrochemicals.Mr Raphael Goga, 46, from Hodzo-Wortikpo and 19 others were also awarded at the Municipal level.Mr Goga, who emerged as the Best Municipal Farmer took home a tricycle, wellington boots, cutlasses, a radio set and a spraying machine.e