A Satellite market dubbed ‘Ofie Market has been launched at Amanokrom to address post-harvest losses and empower farmers in the Akwapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region.
The Initiative by the Akwapem North Member of Parliament, Sammi Awuku seeks to reach out to 500 small holder farmers and 300 traders.
Scheduled to be held every last Saturday of the Month, Ofie Market would offer a direct trading platform for farmers and traders while consumers get access to fresh produce.
In addition, Farmers would also have access to loans at a reduced five percent interest to reduce their burden. MP for the area Sammi Awaku would personally cover 25 percent of the interest rate to ensure farmers expand their farms for improved livelihood.
“What has been our heart desire is for such assistance for our farms. we the youth, it’s not like we don’t like farming, we just don’t have enough funds. The initiative by Our MP Sammi Awuku is good news. I have a huge farm, but I don’t have funds to expand it or engage in mix cropping. Farming is important and gives return on the right investment. If the youth are supported well, we would not rely on white colour jobs,” one of the farmers, Peter excitedly said.
The Akwapem North Municipal Agriculture Director Ibrahim S. Alidu underscored the need for agriculture and agribusiness in local economic growth.
“There is the need to promote and strengthen agribusiness platform to focus on how to create a viable marketing linkage to enable our local farmers and market women to aggregate their food stuffs and value-added products to sell at a good price and in a conducive environment.”
He added “As a department responsible for agricultural productivity, growth, food sufficiency and agribusiness in the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly, we believe the Ofie Market initiative would largely spearhead the marketing of agricultural produce and products in the municipality. The Ofie Market concept has the potential to strengthen the market linkages, reduce post-harvest losses, improve efficiency and profitability among agricultural value chain actors, create jobs for young people and women and improve incomes and nutrition in the municipality.”
The Akwapem North Municipality is Peri- Urban Municipality with a larger population of its Constituents being Small Holder farmers. The only vibrant market for trading attracting traders from far and near is the Adawso Market.
Mr Sammi Awuku noted that economic prosperity and economic empowerment was critical for the socioeconomic development of the Constituency.
“For this constituency to be able to stand, the first and foremost is to ensure economic empowerment and economic prosperity. I am not one of the people who believe that the government should be the provider of everything for a family, however the MP can be a vehicle for facilitation,” he explained.
“In bringing economic prosperity to the people, what I decided is to give them loans at a low interest rate. With support from others who support this course, I will personally take 25 percent of the interest to be paid from loans the bank offers. So, the farmers and traders would only pay five percent interest rate. This is to ensure easy access to credit. It’s very difficult getting credit, these farmers and traders do not usually have the collaterals, ” Mr Awuku stated.
On the Ofie Market Sammi Awuku said it aims to bridge the gap between farmers and consumers while boosting the incomes of small holder farmers and traders.
The Amonokrom Chief who doubles as the Okuapem Gyaasehene expressed worry at the staggering post-harvest loss to the country’s economy and acknowledged it must be dealt with urgently for food security and for the improvement of farming economies.
Source:
3news.com
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