An Advisor to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, George Oduro has called for an engagement between the Ministry and agricultural businesses in how to deal with the issue of the high cost of foodstuff on the market.
Mr. Oduro in an interview with the media expressed optimism that the Planting For Food and Jobs ( PFJ) market will influence the prices of food products on the open market.
” I will plead with any stakeholder who is engaged in any agric-related business, let’s come together. Let’s engage ourselves because there are so many agriculture institutions and associations but they don’t engage with the ministry,”
He observed that there is food availability but people cannot afford them due to high prices. He, however, noted that a stable market can help stabilise prices of foodstuff.
The General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) Edward Kareweh said the general outlook of the economy affects agriculture thus the need to review the agriculture production system and Planting for Food and Jobs program.
He called on the Ministry and Agriculture Ministry to concentrate on how to procure cheap materials for farmers and not to take the work of buffer stock companies and middlemen.
For his part, the CEO of Agribusiness, Anthony Morrison said that the intention of the PFJ market is good, but he wonders if it can be sustained.
He called for proactive policies to drive the agriculture sector.
