The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, says not all recent agricultural losses can be blamed on government inaction, insisting that a significant portion of the damage had already occurred before any state intervention could take effect.
Speaking on JoyNews AM Show on March 23, the lawmaker explained that many of the affected food items, particularly perishable goods had deteriorated before authorities stepped in to support farmers.
“Some of the losses did not just come as a result of the government’s inability. Some were perishable, and so they even got destroyed before the intervention,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over the effectiveness and timing of government measures to address post-harvest losses and support farmers ahead of the 2026 farming season.
Mr Baidoo acknowledged concerns that interventions may have come late but cautioned against framing the issue as a complete failure of policy. According to him, it is misleading to assume that large quantities of produce, such as rice or maize, remain unpurchased and wasted due solely to state inaction.
He also questioned claims that the government’s recent announcement of support measures was intended as a comprehensive solution to the challenges facing the agricultural sector. Instead, he described the move as part of a broader engagement with farmers rather than a standalone policy.
The MP further pushed back against suggestions that the government should refrain from providing input support if it risks worsening food surpluses. He argued that farmers will continue to produce regardless, and state intervention is necessary to ease their burden.
“The alternative is not to refuse to help the farmer. The farmer will plant anyway… if the government does not come in, the farmer will go and buy,” he noted, likening government assistance to offering support during difficult times.
Beyond immediate losses, Mr Baidoo pointed to structural challenges such as inadequate storage infrastructure, especially for perishable produce like vegetables. He described concerns about limited capacity under the buffer stock system as valid and worthy of attention.
Looking ahead, however, he identified Ghana’s consumption patterns as a more pressing issue than production itself. He called for a national shift towards patronising locally produced food to complement efforts aimed at boosting output.
“I think the bigger problem now is not necessarily production, but our consumption pattern as a people,” he said, urging collective action to support local farmers.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a major policy shift announced by President John Dramani Mahama, who has transitioned from a subsidy-based model to a fully free input distribution system through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The initiative targets cocoa and staple crop farmers and includes the distribution of fertilisers, insecticides, spraying machines, and other inputs to boost yields.
Farmers are required to register at designated Farmer Service Centres, 50 of which are planned nationwide, with initial hubs already operational in districts such as Kwahu Afram Plains South.
The policy forms part of broader efforts by government and international partners to help farmers recover from high production costs and recent food gluts, while improving food security and rural livelihoods.
Mr Baidoo also touched on the political dimension of agricultural policymaking, noting that bipartisan support could strengthen implementation and shield critical interventions from partisan backlash.
He stressed that while current measures may not fully resolve the sector’s challenges, they represent necessary steps that must be complemented by broader reforms and national consensus.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com