Farmers in the country are advocating a policy that will ensure government institutions purchase locally made products to create a thriving industry.
The farmers argue that successive governments only pay attention to their production and not its sustainance.
““I think government is the biggest buyer of everything. We have schools, we have government agencies that that are fed. If government decides to buy directly from farmers, and they are assured of market for their produce, then everybody can plan and grow. What government can do is not only to look at production, but rather the entire chain”, Manager in charge of Retail at Farmer’s Market Bernard Amponsah told Citi Business News.
He also argues that governments often award contracts to companies that import produce thereby leaving out the local farmers.
This should it continue, will render them uncompetitive.
Mr. Bernard Amponsah therefore insists that the government must look at the entire chain to ensure the sustainability of farmers.
“If there are factories that are processing tomatoes into cans, if government is assuring people of a fixed price that they are buying the things off them to feed schools and to feed staff and then if you are going into production, you know that when it is ready, there is somebody who can buy it. Otherwise, there is no plan. The ultimate is for the farmer to be assured that whatever he is planting, he can sell it to make money” he explained.
Mr Amponsah spoke to Citi Business News during the opening of the Farmer’s Market branch at East Legon last Friday.
Farmer’s Market opens fourth retail outlet at East Legon
The retail outlet which is the fourth comes shortly after it opened one at Labone in Accra.
According to Mr Amponsah, the outlet seeks to provide healthy living in a friendly shopping environment.
He adds that their main target is to provide the widest range of fruits and vegetables in one shop.
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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana