The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in the Eastern Region has advocated for some compensation to farmers affected by Dengue fever.
The Ghana Health Service on July 17, 2024, reported a total of 36 confirmed cases in the Eastern and Central regions, affecting some farmers in the Birim Central, Birim North, Akyemansa, Birim South and Achiase districts in the Eastern Region.
According to the ministry, the distribution of some farming inputs and grants to these farmers affected by the health issue will go a long way to help them bounce back and also contribute towards ensuring food security in the region and the country as a whole.
The Eastern Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Hajia Habiba Yussufu, made this call on the sidelines of the launch of the 2024 4th edition of the Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair in Koforidua.
“The issue of dengue fever affects all of us and not just the farmers who are there [in the affected districts]. Certainly, the farmer has bought inputs or if even it is a grant, you start your production and at the end of the day you fall sick and all that you have done now is left in the bush.
“So at the end of the day, how would you even take care of yourself? So when there is a health issue, certainly it affects food security.
“The government is doing well, even for those who suffered during the [Akosombo Dam] spillover. They have been given inputs free of charge as compensation.
“So for such people who had issues, even during COVID, inputs were given to our farmers free of charge so for those who have suffered the dengue fever, I think they must be compensated and be given inputs.”
Touching on the theme ‘Fostering Agribusiness Growth and Youth Development, the Role of the Eastern Commodity Satellite Market Fair’ Hajia Habiba shared her thoughts on the hikes in prices of food commodities in Koforidua and the entire region.
