The Member of Parliament for Akwatia, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, says it is inaccurate to attribute recent agricultural losses solely to government inaction, arguing that a significant portion of the damage occurred before state interventions could take effect.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on March 23, the lawmaker explained that many of the affected food items—particularly perishable produce—had already deteriorated by the time support measures were rolled out.
“Some of the losses did not just come as a result of the government’s inability. Some were perishable, and they got destroyed before the intervention,” he said.
His comments come amid ongoing debate over the effectiveness and timing of government efforts to address post-harvest losses and support farmers ahead of the 2026 farming season.
Mr Baidoo acknowledged concerns about delays in intervention but cautioned against portraying the situation as a complete policy failure. He argued that it is misleading to assume that large volumes of produce, such as rice and maize, are going to waste purely due to government inaction.
He also downplayed suggestions that recent government support measures were intended as a comprehensive solution, describing them instead as part of broader engagement with farmers.
The MP rejected calls for the government to scale back input support over fears of worsening food surpluses, insisting that farmers will continue to produce regardless.
“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 state support to providing relief in difficult times.
Beyond the immediate losses, Mr Baidoo highlighted deeper structural challenges, including inadequate storage infrastructure—particularly for perishable goods. He said concerns about limited capacity within the buffer stock system are valid and must be addressed.
Looking ahead, he pointed to Ghana’s consumption patterns as a key issue, urging a national shift towards patronising locally produced food to complement efforts to boost production.
“I think the bigger problem now is not necessarily production, but our consumption pattern as a people,” he added.
His remarks come against the backdrop of a new policy direction announced by President John Dramani Mahama, who has moved away 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, providing fertilisers, insecticides, spraying equipment, and other inputs to boost yields. Farmers are required to register at designated Farmer Service Centres, with 50 centres planned nationwide and initial hubs already operational in areas such as Kwahu Afram Plains South.
The policy forms part of broader efforts by government and its partners to help farmers recover from rising production costs and recent food gluts, while strengthening food security and rural livelihoods.
Mr Baidoo also stressed the need to depoliticise agricultural policy, noting that bipartisan support would improve implementation and protect key interventions from partisan divisions.
He maintained that while current measures may not fully resolve the sector’s challenges, they represent important steps that must be backed by sustained reforms and national consensus.