It’s interesting how constantly players within Ghana’s Agro Industry have and continue to call on governments to either provide or undertake one form project or make available financial assistance for Agro Industry development and growth.

But let’s pause and think about the following issues……

There’s another policy MOFA is rushing to bring out. That’s the legislation to force Banks to lend for agric purposes!

WILL THIS HELP?

It’s bad and needless. A simple answer to why it won’t work is in the QUESTION.

WHY ARE BANKS REFUSING TO LEND TO AGRI?

Let’s remember that the BANKS are in business to make money and if there’s money to be made lending to Agric, why would the BANKS hold back?

Why don’t we concentrate fixing the risk factors and make agric attractive to BANKS?

SECTOR PLAYERS CREDIBILITY SYSTEMS

We have been told how several development partners, donor organizations, Multi Nationals have put in millions and millions of dollars, pounds, euros etc into several value chains and districts in Ghana.

We are also aware and we know ourselves and several others who have benefited hugely from both government and donor funding but have failed to either pay back the funds or deliberately run down the projects.

We have heard stories of many major stakeholders, Snr Industry players who have obtained one form of credits from notable Banks and Investment and have failed to fulfill the required financial agreements.

In some cases many have gone to different shops and Agro outlets where they have obtained goods and other critical agriculture equipments either on credit or with the promise of paying back the next day, yet this payment have never materialized.

The current non payment for credits be it cash, Inputs or technical support are not limited to only other value chain players but also small holder farmers.

It’s a known fact that most farmers in most cases default in such scenario.

This situation of constant default is not only limited to just credits but also is a major cause for the collapse of most of the country’s most viable past Agriculture Ventures and companies. Some were incorporated locally and internationally.

There are individuals who have have deliberately or unconsciously run down such past viable enterprises.

The most interesting thing is that this are people who still continue to enjoy the sector.

Same situation could be said of workers and managers and several task undertakes on many farms whose action of pilfering, deliberately disruption and damages continues to contribute to the many gargantuan problems the sector already bereft with.

As we seek to streamline an industry and position it for investment and credit drives we must also take into consideration such acts of workers and many other tendencies that have the likelihood to collapse people’s critical investments.

The big question is should A CREDIT WEALTHY CHECK be undertaken in Ghana’s Agriculture Space how many people will pass this test or credit score rating.

Many of the Country’s Banks have time in again complained bitterly how most of their debts are those they have done on Agriculture and its value chain.

It’s time we start thinking of streaming the industry in such a way we can begin to call the right shorts and decisions to show leadership as required.

In conclusion I will like to passionately plead with those who have defaulted on credits in whatever form should begin to take steps to address the problem before calling on the government to make major changes or provide major financial aid.

As the good old book said – take the speck out of your eye,’ before you attempt to remove the plank in your brother’s

Farmer Anthony Morrison

Ceo Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana

Chairman Ghana Agriculture Sector Skills Body of TVET Commission

International Agriculture and Infrastructure Development Group

+233540742111

anthonyskmorrison1@gmail.com