Tamale, Dec.4, GNA - Grains producers in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions have appeale d to the government for funds to hire labour to harvest their crops.

The farmers said they had produced a lot of grains for this year but lacked funds to hire labour to harvest.

A statement issued in Tamale on Monday and signed by Mr. Patrick A. Apullah, General-Secretary of Apex Farmers Organisation of Ghana, indicated that crops such as rice and soyabeans had not been harvested and faced the risk of bush fires and post-harvest losses. The farmers explained that they anticipated financial assistance from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and therefore intensified production but the assistance never came, hence their inability to hire labour.

They urged the government to let its agricultural policies and programmes to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound to benefit farmers.

The statement commended the government for keeping faith with farmers by recognising their contribution to the national economy and honouring them accordingly.