Agriculture

PHOTOS: Acres of plantain farms in Agogo cut-down for teak plantation

Many Plaintain farmers of Agogo, the capital of Asante Akim North in the Ashanti Region have raised concerns over how some private developers are thwarting their works.

According to them, the developers have cut-down acres of their plantain farms for teak plantations.

Speaking to Oyerepa TV in an interview at Agogo’s Morocco Market, the farmers disclosed that, many of their farms have been cut down by private developers. The move they stated hampering the mass production of plantain in the district.

Some sellers Obaa Abena, Mama and Adwoa Domaa who expressed their grievance over the problem stated that of late they don’t get the plantain to purchase in mass quantity as compared to previous years. They declared that the idea of turning plantain farms into teak plantations could bring food shortage in the country since the district is among the largest producer of food in  Ghana.

“Previously we use to buy and sell about 12 trucks loaded with plantain and transport to various parts of the country and even across borders,  but now we’re unable to purchase and sell in mass quantity.

Farmers no longer bring enough produce for us to buy, therefore the little that makes it to the market is in high demand; everyone wants to lay a hand on it. This as a result has inflated the prices of the produce.” The sellers stated.

The sellers also complained about the high cost of agrochemicals, stating that, the costs have made farming expensive hence farmers are incapable to grow plantains on large farms.

Former President Mahama 2021 predicted a likely food shortage to hit the country in 2022 if the government does not pump more funds into agriculture.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture on the other hand dismissed John Mahama’s concerns. The ministry said Mahama is perpetuating lies just to assuage public anger.

Source: Oyerepfmonline.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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