Hunger and severe poverty could hit some parts of the Afram Plains area of the Eastern Region owing to a decision by Kwahu traditional authorities to sell large tracts of farmland stretching several miles to a foreign investor.

The sale of the land to the investor, who is popularly known among inhabitants of the area as 'obroni', has halted the cultivation of lands for the planting of yam - the main crop - as well as, cassava, groundnuts, agushi, pepper, maize, and rice. Some of the farmers affected reside in communities such as Kwasikune, Nsogya Anaafoo, Burai Kofi, Kwadwo Amoah, etc.

Public Agenda was informed that the foreign investor will venture into animal husbandry and an undisclosed industrial activity with a promise to employ the youth and establish educational institutions for the communities.

Even though the farmers welcomed the setting up of schools, the creation of jobs for the youth, and the opening up of the area through road constructions, they expressed disgust that they have to discontinue farming due to the loss of the most fertile lands to this investor.

Already, many of the farmers, especially Krachis, Dagaatis and Sissalas have started migrating since their farmlands were declared "wanted" by this 'obroni'(whiteman). Others have begun investing their monies in trading through the construction of kiosks for their wives and children to sell in areas like Akwasi Fante, Maame Krobo and Ekye Amanfrom.

These are peasant farmers who pay yearly land lease fees to the traditional authorities to cultivate on average four acres of yam every season, while the females cultivate on average two acres of groundnut, pepper or agushi. They usually have two or three of their children helping them with their farming activities while the rest, if any at all, are sent to relatives back home to be educated.

One thing they are all certain about is that in only a couple of years, none of them would be living in that area because the 'obroni' does not plan to invest in cultivation of yam and other crops which have been their backbone through the years.

Their fear now is that even if they were given other lands to cultivate, they will lose their children to the 'obroni' who has reportedly recruited some of the young people already to put up his base and fell trees. So this year, most of the farmers have abandoned farm work because of uncertainty.

They are, therefore, going to rely on the last season's production for feeding. What would happen to them after that is anybody's guess.

Yam is an extremely important crop for at least 60 million people, comprising rural poor producers, processors and consumers in West Africa. It provides multiple opportunities for poverty reduction and nourishment that gives 30 billion calories of energy in the continent.

The Afram Plains is a major yam producing area for the country, coming after northern Ghana. Though specific statistics are lacking on the quantum of yam produced in the area, some of the farmers claimed they sell about 1,000 tubers of yam from a two-acre farm in a good season.

According to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) statistics, 48.7 million tonnes of yams were produced worldwide in 2005, and 97% of this was in sub-Saharan Africa. West and Central Africa accounted for about 94% of world production. Nigeria led production with 34 million tonnes followed by Côte d'Ivoire (5 million tonnes), Ghana (3.9 million), and Bénin (2.1 million tonnes), etc.

Ghana exports the largest quantity of yams (about 12,000 tonnes) annually. Average yam consumption per capita per day is highest in Bénin (364 kcal) followed by Côte d'Ivoire (342 kcal), Ghana (296 kcal), and Nigeria (258 kcal).

In 2004, experts attending a two-day workshop in Ibadan, Nigeria on yam research development in West and Central Africa called on regional leaders to invest more in yam production for local consumption and export purposes.

Teferi-Bel Amakeletetch, representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said the West and Central African countries which provide the highest yam production in the world needed to use their comparative advantage to reduce poverty, achieve food security and earn foreign exchange.