The Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF) has emphasized the critical need for enhanced collaboration between traditional authorities and agricultural stakeholders to boost food production and security in the country.
Speaking at the North East Regional Symposium of Farmers and Fishermen held in Langbensi, GNAFF National Secretary Dr. Abutu Kapori stressed that such partnerships are essential for creating an enabling environment that supports increased agricultural productivity.
“There is no community in Ghana without a chief, and equally, there is no community in Ghana without farmers and fishermen. This reality makes collaboration between traditional authorities and our members not just desirable, but absolutely necessary,” Dr. Kapori stated.
The symposium, themed “Peaceful Collaboration Between Traditional Authority and Farmers and Fishermen: The Role of GNAFF,” brought together regional executives, traditional leaders including the Chief of Langbensi Mba Kanbon Naa Vincent Kolgu Yidana, agricultural officials, and farmers from across the region.
Dr. Kapori congratulated the newly elected regional executives, describing their successful election as a reflection of unity and democratic maturity among members. He reiterated that GNAFF remains a non-partisan organization focused solely on advocating for farmer and fishermen welfare.
The National Secretary urged farmers to take full advantage of government initiatives including the Feed Ghana programme and the recently launched Nkoko Nkitikiti programme, which are designed to boost local production and ensure ready markets for agricultural produce.
To strengthen the association at the regional level, Dr. Kapori outlined three priority actions: organizing farmers into cooperatives for enhanced collective bargaining, systematic registration of all members for better data collection, and regular use of local radio stations to disseminate information on best agronomic practices and climate-smart techniques.
He gave special recognition to women farmers whose overwhelming participation demonstrated strong commitment to agricultural development in the region. Dr. Kapori also challenged regional leadership to identify and leverage the North East Region’s comparative advantages in cereals, legumes, livestock, and other agricultural enterprises to enhance bargaining power.
The GNAFF National Secretary concluded by reaffirming the association’s core mandate of advocating for accessible markets, timely availability of quality inputs, climate-smart agriculture, and improved feeder roads connecting farms to markets.
