Poultry farmers in the country have denied claim by former Deputy Minister of Agric, George Oduro, that they have rejected the government’s interest-free loan which was intended to help the farmers save the crippling poultry industry.
Adom TV/FM’s all-new documentary series dubbed Asukodo, the first of which aired on Adom TV last Saturday, threw the spotlight on Ghana’s poultry industry.
The documentary highlighted, among others, several challenges farmers face which needed urgent attention.
Mr Oduro, who is also the Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, reacting to the documentary and how government intends to help the farmers, said the government tried to help the industry players with interest-free loans but the farmers did not show willingness.
“What the poultry farmers need now is capital to invest into their business but the Ministry of Finance met with the farmers, told them that the Agric Ministry has gotten their share of the Ghana Care Obaatanpa Programme which was introduced by the president to help sustain businesses due the Covid-19 pandemic, so the farmers were told to go to their various banks for loans and the government will pay the interest,’’ he said.
President of the Poultry Framers Association of Ghana, Victor Oppong Adjei, responding to this claim on Adom TV’’s Current Affairs Programme The Big Agenda, hosted by Nana Osei Ampofo Adjei, said what the minister said was not the case.
“I will be disappointed in the former Minister if he said government asked us to go for interest- free loans but we refused,’’ Mr Adjei stated.
According to him, the Ministry met the farmers in the poultry industry to educate them on a policy that the government is putting measures in place so the farmers can go for loans from their banks and the government will pay the interest but the discussion was not concluded since then, they did not hear from the Ministry again.
“How can you tell me to go for loan at a bank so you pay for the interest without you giving me a document to show to my bank as evidence?” Mr Adjei quizzed.