Nana Kwaku Siaw, Former National Best Farmer and Nkosuohene of Domeabra in the Ejisu Municipality of the Ashanti Region, has made a passionate appeal for the establishment of a processing plant to help strengthen Ghana’s agricultural value chain. He said the absence of such facilities continues to cripple the efforts of hardworking farmers across the country.
According to him, countless farmers lose a significant portion of their produce every season due to the lack of processing centres. He noted that after farmers spend months cultivating and harvesting crops, the foodstuffs often go bad within days simply because there are no factories to convert them into processed goods.
Nana Kwaku Siaw stressed that this situation discourages many farmers, especially small-scale producers, whose livelihoods depend solely on timely sales of their harvest. He explained that with a reliable processing plant, farmers would be assured of ready markets, reduced post-harvest losses, and improved income levels.
He called on government, private investors, and agricultural partners to consider the establishment of agro-processing factories in farming communities. According to him, such investments would not only boost local production but also create jobs and stabilize prices throughout the production cycle.
The former National Best Farmer also appealed for better incentives to motivate farmers who continue to feed the nation under difficult conditions. He mentioned that subsidies on inputs, access to machinery, and technical support should be expanded to improve productivity.
Nana Kwaku Siaw further emphasized the need for sustained recognition of past award-winning farmers. He said former National and Regional Best Farmers hold valuable experience that can contribute to national agricultural policy and decision-making when engaged.
He applauded the government for the attention it has given to the agricultural sector in recent years. He acknowledged ongoing interventions aimed at boosting productivity but stated that more needs to be done to secure the future of Ghana’s food systems.
The Nkosuohene lamented the continuous challenge of inadequate storage facilities in many farming communities. He explained that the lack of modern storage systems contributes massively to the profit losses experienced by poor farmers each season.
He noted that even when farmers succeed in harvesting large quantities of crops, they are often forced to sell them quickly at low prices to avoid spoilage. This, he said, keeps farmers trapped in a cycle of low income and financial instability.
Nana Kwaku Siaw concluded by urging authorities to prioritize the construction of warehouses, pack houses, and modern preservation systems. He stressed that with proper storage, processing plants, and strong market linkages, Ghana’s agricultural sector will flourish and farmers will finally reap the full benefits of their labour.
#Please call him for insight into the story on 0244537144
