FSG observes the International Day of Peasants’ Struggle

Food Sovereignty Ghana stands in solidarity with all progressive people around the world to salute and celebrate the International Day of Peasants’ struggle. We fully recognize this distinguished group of humanity who provide the majority of food we consume on the planet. For millennia mankind has depended on peasant farmers to provide the daily nutritional needs of our communities and they continue to remain a most significant pillar in the organisational structure of any nation.

FSG is however highly concerned that the rights of the peasant have never been under more pressure since the beginning of time. There are many factors affecting peasant welfare in a negative manner and FSG calls upon the stakeholders of the world’s food production systems to incorporate more sustainable models of agriculture to ensure a balanced approach. It is only this dynamic shift of thought which will provide the much needed relief that millions of peasants desperately require. It is almost beyond the deadline for governments to develop the political will and support their citizens and the environment.

This celebration is observed at a time when there are more and more calls from across the board for a return to more agroecological farm practices to ensure the sustainability of the environment.

As the most important stakeholders in the food production value chain, peasant farmers deserve to be respected and have their rights protected to ensure they continue to play the invaluable role that they have played for millennia.

Farmers‘ rights include the ability to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seeds and these are under heavy threat from the proposed Plant Breeders’ Bill. Specifically to this effect FSG reiterates its call on the honourable house of Parliament to publishthe report on the Civil Society and Faith Based Organization consultations on the Plant Breeders’ Bill (PBB).

We repeat our observations and calls we made on the absence of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) , Parliament Beats a Retreat on Plant Breeders’ Bill! | https://foodsovereigntyghana.org/parliament-beats-a-retreat-on-plant-breeders-bill/ Food Sovereignty Ghana, which we made as far back as November 27, 2014:

“We would like to see in any future bill, a clear statement of farmers rights and the absence of any form of criminalization of farmers such as what we saw in Clause 58 of the rejected bill. In the Report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on The Plant Breeders’ Bill, November, 2013, we witness the conspicuous absence of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) among the documents referenced. This is an unconscionable omission. Ghana is a signatory to this treaty. It is the treaty that protects and supports farmers rights. As a member of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGRFA) we expect Ghana to take steps to realize farmers’ rights to use, sell, save and exchange farm-saved seeds, to protect their traditional knowledge and to allow their participation in national decision-making. The bill must preserve Ghana’s sovereign independence and must protect the DNA of Ghana’s traditional seeds from biopiracy.”

We must warn the government and Parliament to be aware of the interests behind the massive lobbying activities of the transnational corporations in support the Plant Breeders’ Bill, and be reminded that their primary duty is to the welfare of Ghanaians.

A properly written report, detailing the various objections to the PBB in the petitions, and the reasons why our MPs think they must not be taken into consideration, if any, must be made known to all Ghanaians. Transparency is the key and on this day when we recognize the daily struggles and celebrate their triumphs over what could be avoidable obstacles we feel that Ghana owes it to our peasant farmers to ensure their welfare. In so doing we automatically safeguard our future food supply as well as protect the environment and livelihood of almost sixty percent of our population.

In place of the proposed PBB which is so unfortunately inspired by the very controversial UPOV 91 plant variety protection regime, we humbly urge the government of Ghana and Parliament to consider and adopt a “sui generis” PVP system which also takes care of plant breeder rights as well as those of farmers, as this also fulfils WTO obligations.

On such a momentous occasion we call on the government of Ghana to pay great attention to the sustainability factor in implementing its proposed “Planting for food for jobs” programme. Any programme to achieve the sort of targets identified will require much attention to detail in ensuring that factors such as soil fertility, climate change, equitable access to land, information and inclusion in policy making are addressed.

In light of the upcoming proposed launch of the national ‘Planting for Food and Jobs program at Goaso, capital of the Asunafo Municipality in the Brong-Ahafo Region on April 19, 2017, we call on H.E. President Akufo Addo to reconsider the negative impact on the Ghanaian environment and her citizens that the incorporation of chemicals such as the controversial and harmful Monsanto manufactured “Roundup” which has been linked to cancer by much independent research will pose. The United Nations has diplomatically stated that “Glyphosate is possibly carcinogenic to humans”. The cancer-research arm of the World Health Organization announced on 20 March 2015 that #glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, is probably carcinogenic to humans. (Guyton, K. Z. et al. Lancet Oncol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1470-2045(15)70134-8 (2015).)

To this end, FSG is very disturbed about the likelihood that such a dangerous chemical will play a key role in the government’s preferred path to achieve food security. It is absolutely unsustainable to think that 250,000 farmers will be encouraged to utilize on their crops and land a chemical that has earned a controversial status all over the world where its negative effects are now well documented. In support of our position we share the recent court decision in California to become the first US state to declare Glyphosate causes cancer http://www.ecowatch.com/california-roundup-cancer-warning-2…

According to news reports, Mr Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, explains that the programme, a new initiative and intervention introduced by the government to promote national food security and job creation, “interested farmers would be provided with free seedlings and other agricultural inputs and agro-chemicals such as fertilizers at reduced prices”. Mr Asomah-Cheremeh made this known at the launching of the KVCL/Dizengoff partnership project in Sunyani.

We also learn that:
“Under the partnership, Dizengoff Ghana will bring its products to the door-step of farmers in Brong-Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions at reduced prices”.

Unfortunately, FSG is aware of the fact that Dizengoff Ghana Ltd one of such products is Monsanto’s Roundup . See: http://dizengoffgh.com/agric/2012/05/04/agro-chemicals/

We call on the government to ensure that the use of such a highly toxic and controversial chemical is suspended until the science becomes very clear. We must not use Ghanaians as guinea pigs in such a dangerous experiment!

We join independent experts all over the world as we point to agroecology as the way forward. Peasant farmers are scientists with indigenous knowledge who understand their land, the flora and fauna that live in their surroundings and we must harness this ancient wisdom that maintained the sustainability of ecosystems for millennia.

FSG wishes all peasant farmers and their families a happy International Day of Peasants’ struggle!

For Life, the Environment, and Social Justice!
Edwin Kweku Andoh Baffour
Communications Directorate, FSG