Page 61 - AFAP Success Stories 2020

have access to them. As a result he will not be able to adoption by farmers has been relatively low, there is no
apply the needed fertilizer to his crops at the correct time. doubt that farmers who have adopted these techniques
have seen massive improvements in their yields (AFAP –
In the rural areas of Ghana, farmers usually transport their SIPMA monitoring report). Linked to this phenomenon,
produce to small and large markets to sell and, in turn, agro-input retailers, also recorded high sales as farmers
purchase other essential items such as salt, milk and soap have increased their purchases of such inputs (AFAP
with the monies made from their sale. Market closures and – SIPMA monitoring report). This impact is cyclical: as
a total lockdown mean that farmers will not be able to farmers adopt new practices such as those mentioned
take their produce to market. While some of the produce, to increase their yields and food supplies to markets and
such as maize and beans, can be stored for future sale, the country in totality, they directly create jobs for input
other produce, such as tomatoes and mangos, might not retailers; who then create more demand from farmers.
necessarily be able to withstand being stored locally for
a long period of time. These challenges are coupled with However, with the outbreak of this pandemic, this
the fact that some farmers do not have access to storage revolving effect is likely to be hindered. Closure of markets,
facilities at all. If they do, they may not have enough space partial or complete lockdown and social distancing will
to store their entire yields, a reality which would compel almost certainly present a stumbling block to this. In
them sell their produce at any available price. The end Ghana, most of these rural farmers produce to feed both
result of this is the adverse effect on the profits and thus the local markets and national market and, in some cases,
the living standards of smallholder farmers. While the the international market. While some buyers move to the
impact is currently minor, should the pandemic remain villages to collect and purchase the produce from the
for a while, its negative impact on the yields of small farmers, the majority of farmers, due to their location,
holder farmers will be catastrophic. poor road networks and transportation challenges, have
to transport their own produce to the markets to sell.
These farmers will be greatly affected by market closure
Impact on access to inputs and input and other restrictions. Also, buyers and middlemen who,
distribution all things being equal would have travelled to the villages
to purchase produce, would not be able to do so. As
Another important aspect of the agricultural value chain
is retailing, which includes agricultural-produce retailing farmers are compelled to stay at home rather than farm,
and inputs retailing. Agro-inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, they, in turn, will not be able to purchase inputs from
weedicides, pesticides and other inputs are basic essentials agro-input retailers.
for every farmer especially smallholder farmers. Over the
past year, government, public and private organizations
such as AFAP have encouraged farmers to adopt modern Impact on agroprocessing and
farming methods such as the use of improved seeds, good Industry
agricultural practices and the right fertilizer application in Over the past years in Ghana, farmers have been
order to boost their yields and subsequently improve their encouraged to add value to their produce in order to
standard of living through increased output. While the reduce spoilage, increase food security in the country,

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