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Oil Palm farmers in the Western Region feared their business is on the verge of collapsing should the government’s effort to fight against the illegal mining (galamsey) fails to yield results.
According to the farmers, the devastating effects of the activities of galamseyers on oil palm production in the area is getting out of hands.
Therefore, they are calling on the government through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), to strengthen it commitment in the fight because they feared been rendered jobless.
The oil palm farmers made the statement, Tuesday, November 1,2022 in an interaction with the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Dr. Owusu Afieyie Akoto, during his tour of the region.
The discussion was also focused on ensuring food prices were stabilised through boosting local capacities and improving their yields.
The farmers complaining about the raging impacts of illegal mining on their farms said, it calls for urgent need to address it the cancer.
According to them, undertaking their practice smoothly will see improvement in their business which would help reduce palm oil importation on the country.
They met with the Minister as part of his second leg tour this year to ensure food prices were stabilised through boosting local capacities and improving their yields.
Notwithstanding, the National Treasure, Oil Palm Farmers Association, John Essoun, bemoaned the cost of production resulting from high cost of fertilisers.
He, therefore, appealed for measures to mitigate same to enable them break even.
On his part, the President of Oil Palm Development Association and Estate Manager of Benso Oil Palm Plantations in the Western Region, Ing. Samuel Avaala, said a concerted effort was needed to combat the activities of galamsey operators.
He admitted that the activities of galamsey operators were having dire consequences on their work, hence called on the government and other stakeholders to act in order to save the sector.
