The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) says the 2023 budget statement failed to make enough provisions for the agric sector.
According to General Secretary of the Union, Edward Kareweh, indicated the claim that the sector had seen some progress cannot be true.
“When they [Government] say they are making progress, what do they mean, what is that progress? And what do they mean when they say they are going to increase inputs and fertilizer, by what means?”
“The Ministry has cut down expenditure on agriculture from 2021, the subsidy on fertilizer was 36 percent, and in 2022, it has been reduced to 15 percent. The total number of subsidized fertilizers in 2021 has also been cut down up to a quarter and so if you see a Government policy direction in this way prior to budget and the budget comes, and it does not tell you clearly that it is reversing this. It is skeptical.”
“We are not impressed because the challenges confronting the agric sector are enormous and you can’t use general policy statements to address those challenges, so we need specific, tangible, and measurable targeted measures and I am yet to see that in the budget.”
The Minister revealed, among other things, that efforts are underway to establish and expand local fertilizer production plants, as well as some financial commitments aimed at assisting farmers.
But GAWU is not impressed with the budget statement.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
