Farmers call for enforcement on implementation of accepted weights and measures

Maize Farmers in Ashanti and Bono Ahafo regions are calling for enforcement of the use of weights and measures for sale of grains.

A major challenge to smallholder farmers is getting fair prices for their produce.

Primarily in the Ashanti and Bono Ahafo regions, farmers sell their maize using the ‘bushweight’ system where heaped bags of maize weighing between 130 and 150 kg are sold for the value of a 100kg bag, depriving farmers of the extra kilos.

Buyers often take advantage by demanding their bags are filled to the brim instead of paying by weight.

To address this, the World Food Programme introduced the Purchase for Progress Initiative, using weighing scales in 2010.

Ejura-Sekyedumasi District in the Ashanti region was the pilot area for the project which has become successful in the adoption of a new 100 kg bag for standardised sale of maize.

Chairman of Maize and Legumes Porters Association, Jacob Akambila, explains the initiative has benefited themselves and their farmer partners.

Mr. Akambila wants compulsory application of the initiative.

“The nearby countries are using the scales and measures in everything they sell, why can’t we do same? There is no need to beg anybody to accept it because this is for our own good. We can be educating them gradually, and when the time is due we make it compulsory”.

Stake holders met in Kumasi to explore ways to scale-up the adoption and institutionalisation of the weights and measures across the country.

Officer in Charge of the World Food Programme, Magdalena Moshi, at the opening of the two-day engagement told Luv Business farmers were able to sell 50 kg of maize at realistic price compared to previously.

This is because farmers have been trained to produce surplus of 50 kg of which they sell and WFP is the market.

World Food Program has bought 5,000 metric tonnes of maize worth 2 million US dollars from them.

Mrs. Moshi says, “We have played a Key role in introducing them to newer markets other than WFP. The farmers have begun seeing the benefits of having such a market because the more they produce the more they are able to sell”.

To effectively implement the system means more 100 kg bags or sacs must be produced for use. Some are currently being imported.

The World Food Program is being asked to collaborate with local Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to sustain the project.

“If you want bags to produce you need some industrial minds, an industrialist who can see money and want to produce it, otherwise then we will have to continue importing”, that’s according to John Nortey, Deputy Director for the Statistics, Research and Information Directorate at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

here are suggestions local assemblies enact by-laws to compel farmers and buyers to adhere to the new weight system drawing from the success story of Ejura-Sekyere Odumasi district.

Government is therefore being asked to empower security agencies to enforce such laws when they become operational.

WFP and other P4P partners like the farm radio international helped to build the capacity of participating smallholder farmers.