Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has underscored the critical role of smallholder farmers in global food production, calling for greater recognition and support for producers across the agricultural value chain.
Speaking at the Third General Assembly of the World Farmers Markets Coalition (WorldFMC) in Rome, Italy, Hon. Opoku emphasized that farmers are the true originators of food, yet have long been overlooked despite their central contribution to global food systems.
“Unfortunately, along the value chain, it is the producer who has been neglected all this while,” Hon. Opoku noted. “That is why I consider this platform extremely important, as it recognizes the farmer—the one who goes to the field, tills the land, plants the seed, rears livestock, and produces the food that sustains us all.”
The Minister revealed that about 80 percent of Ghana’s farming population are smallholder farmers, who dominate the nation’s agricultural landscape and produce the majority of food consumed locally.
To strengthen these farmers and improve food system efficiency, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has supported the formation of community-based, commodity-focused cooperatives across the country.
“Currently, we have successfully established over 70,000 farmer cooperatives nationwide,” Hon. Opoku disclosed. “By organizing themselves into cooperatives, our farmers are better positioned to access resources, markets, credit, and knowledge that enhance productivity and incomes.”
The World Farmers Markets Coalition General Assembly brought together farmers, market managers, associations, and key stakeholders from around the world to share experiences, evaluate progress, and explore strategies for strengthening farmers markets globally.
The event also focused on biodiversity, food sovereignty, climate resilience, and the promotion of sustainable local supply chains.