Farm produce rots on farms as poor roads cut off farmers' markets in Akusu

Regional News from Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Source: Michael Oberteye

2019-06-04

Large expanses of harvested agricultural produce are withering in Akusu and Awoso, farming and fishing communities of Manya Krobo district, in the East region. Indeed, bad roads have completely cut farmers out of the market.

The situation is generally aggravated by heavy rains as maize and potato farmers, the main support of local farmers in these two communities, are severely damaged by the poor nature of the roads as farmers are deprived of commercial opportunities.

Their rainy prayers, which usually bring in large crops, are usually thwarted by rotting produce on their farms as roads become impossible to cope with the rains.

Akusu, a community of about five thousand inhabitants and Awoso, whose population is estimated at 2,000, are important maize and potato communities in Manya Krobo district, where important quantities of corn and potatoes are routinely shipped to various parts of the district and beyond. This number is however decreasing.

Akusu's Tetteh Gideon is a corn producer and supplier to customers in various markets in the Eastern Region and other parts of the country. However, he is unable to transport harvested crops to his destinations because of poor roads.

Women who are also unable to send fish to the Akateng market due to the nature of the road are forced to risk the uncertainties of transport on Lake Volta to the center of the market. # 39; Akateng.

The situation, says Gideon, has meant that market women from other parts of the district and beyond have abandoned farm produce because they found that transportation to Akusu, Awoso and surrounding communities was unfavorable. . "Merchants do not come to buy our products, so when we grow, we struggle to sell our products," said Gideon, adding that the market women had taken advantage of the lack of market availability to allow farmers to sell their products. buy their products at & # 39; free prices.

"The shopkeepers who come here and are aware of the transportation problems we face in getting to Asesewa are exploiting us by buying our products at ridiculously low prices," he said.

The Assembly of the Akusu-Awoso constituency, which revealed that the roads were in their respective states "over the last thirty years," described Akusu as a major agricultural enclave in the Upper Manya.

Kwame Ebenezer Kenetey corroborated farmers' lamentations and decried the bad nature of the roads.

The badembly member, while denouncing the poor condition of other roads connecting Akusu and satellite communities, said the situation had affected the status of the once-vibrant Akusu market as a market hub in Upper Manya Krobo. .

Transport problems not only affect local farmers in affected communities. Carrying pregnant women during labor as well as other urgent medical cases in the absence of reliable medical facilities and personnel in nearby establishments has always been a difficult adventure.

The member of the badembly revealed that the situation had been brought to the attention of the district badembly and the MP's office individually, but it has not changed, despite the continuing badurance of a resolution quick problem.

Mr Kenetey said that the Honorable Felix Odjao, the district director for the region, had badured that the road had been contracted, pending its construction, should finally relieve the inhabitants of Akusu and d & # 39; Awoso.

He was confident that badurances that the road would be fully secured by the end of 2019 would be met and that farmers would be spared the nightmare of post-harvest losses and weak markets.

He reprimanded the politicians who, he said, "deceived" the electorate by voting for them to address these relevant challenges only to gain power and backtrack on their promises.

Another isolated farm in the community is Tamatey Asare, a young maize farmer who grows acres.

Although several exceptional harvests are ready to be transported to the nearest markets, including Asesewa, this is generally not possible.

Gideon has invested significant amounts of money in the cultivation of its farmland as it targets products destined for markets in Asesewa and surrounding towns, but is unable to transport harvested crops to its destinations. because of the bad roads.

"We face many challenges in our agricultural activities due to the deplorable nature of the roads," he bitterly lamented in an interview with Rite News correspondent David Ayertey in Akusu. "Look at the rocky nature of the road that makes the transportation of our farm products very difficult."

According to Gideon, the situation is sometimes so painful that pbadengers are forced to descend and push vehicles blocked either on muddy roads or on rocky roads.

Deep ravines are visible on most roads, making it difficult for truck traffic. Some farmers are forced to repair portions of the road with shovels and rudimentary tools en route to their farms.

They cut trees, cut them, and then fix them to places where the flood is at the ankle to facilitate their movement.

Farmers, having spent huge sums of money on plowing, harvesting and gathering, are challenged by transportation difficulties.

"We spend a lot to make our products ready for sale. Unfortunately, the roads are bad. We will benefit greatly if the government builds our roads for us, "he said.

Currently, a bag of corn is in accordance with the GHS180; however, if the problems are not resolved, farmers may be forced to sell at a lower price.

Those who can not sell will watch their corn rot on their farms.

This trend is evident in many agricultural communities affected by poor roads.

With the ravages caused by armyworms in the last two years, food security will be threatened if roads leading to farming communities are not repaired.

While farmers spend huge sums on land preparation, including plowing, harvesting, gathering and transportation, transportation remains a major challenge.