Farmers urged to continue cultivation despite low food prices
Agronomist highlights food glut challenges, calls for investment in storage and modern farming to boost future profitability
Farmers have been encouraged to continue cultivating their lands this farming season despite the current low prices of food commodities, with a reminder that increased agricultural production remains essential for food security, employment creation, and future market stability.
A farmer and agronomist, Daniel Akachesiba Akansake, made the call during an appearance on Voices of Change on Mike FM on Saturday, May 23.
According to him, although many farmers are discouraged by the prevailing food glut and poor market prices, abandoning farming could have serious consequences for household food security and future food supply.
“This year, there is likely to be a prolonged dry spell, so farmers should prepare adequately for it, even though many still have produce in stock due to low prices and the lack of ready markets,” he said.
Akansake noted that the abundance of food on the market and the resulting drop in prices have reduced farmers’ enthusiasm to invest in cultivation this season.
“Using myself as an example, I am only planning to cultivate about a quarter of the acreage I normally farm,” he disclosed.
He further highlighted several challenges confronting farmers, including unpredictable weather conditions, pests and diseases, limited access to modern farming equipment, poor market prices, and inadequate financial support.
“In my daily interactions with farmers, many complain about a lack of resources. Even when they are willing to farm, where will the capital come from if they have no alternative source of income or livestock to sell to support their activities?” he queried.
Despite these challenges, Akansake urged farmers not to abandon cultivation, stressing that agriculture remains a critical pillar of food security and economic development.
“Farming is non-taxable and remains one of the few sectors where smart planning, value addition, and direct market access can transform low farm-gate prices into sustainable long-term income and food security,” he stated.
He encouraged farmers to view the current food glut not as a setback but as evidence of strong production capacity and an opportunity to invest in storage, processing, and modern farming methods that reduce post-harvest losses and improve profitability.
“Instead of seeing the glut as a dead end, farmers should see it as an opportunity to focus on storage, processing, and innovative farming practices that can increase profits while ensuring food availability for the future,” he added.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Cynthia Afaah
