FROM Agogo in the Ashanti Region to New Bakpa in the Volta Region, and from Agomeda in the Dangme West District of Greater Accra to Fawoman, Wokasua and Ohiampeh all within the Pru District, crop and animal farmers are shedding tears of ‘blood’.
The reason for this mournful state of affairs is that their lands are being taken over by jatropha producers and foreign agro-based companies in the biofuel business, much to the chagrin of farmers agricultural extension officers, opinion leaders and other well-meaning people in the respective communities and beyond.
For most of these farmers who have lost their parcels of land and livelihoods, the advent of jatropha in Ghana is a death sentence, and the production of biofuels which has become almost a new craze in the agro-industrial sector, is not only a veritable violation of human rights but a threat to the environment.
The lamentable situation has even attracted environmentalists and non-governmental agencies like ‘Food Span’, a food security advocacy network.
The large volume of research this paper has undertaken on jatropha gives it that confidence to bring to the attention of Ghana, the risks the country runs in the unbridled rush to turn farmlands to jatropha cultivation.
In some communities, farmers have been displaced from their farms, adversely affecting household food security. Land tracts of lands are being cleared, destroying vegetative cover, with the consequent negative impact on the environment and biodiversity, water bodies and aquatic life.
For instance, the land acquired close to the Volta Lake is putting the lake at the mercy of the alleged increasing use of agro-chemicals by the company, posing serious threat to biodiversity (flora and fauna) and human life as a result of air and water pollution.
The saddest part of all these is that, in some of the communities, there virtually have been no consultation with the stakeholders before the commencement of the ambitious jatropha projects, a clear affront to human rights.
In recapitulation, food security is severely threatened as jatropha takes over the fertile lands used for food crops, vegetable production and animal grazing.
Our information is that one company has acquired 700 acres of land out of which 49 acres have been planted. Another has acquired 500 acres and put 50 acres under jatropha cultivation.
It has also come to our attention that the jatropha plant is toxic and, therefore, not edible by all kinds of animals. How sure are Ghanaians that after many years of cultivating land with a crop that is said to be toxic, the land will still be good for food cultivation and animal grazing?
Ghana, without doubt, urgently needs a comprehensive national policy on biofuel production that reflects the interests of the people as well as guaranteeing sustainable development and national sovereighly.
The reason for this mournful state of affairs is that their lands are being taken over by jatropha producers and foreign agro-based companies in the biofuel business, much to the chagrin of farmers agricultural extension officers, opinion leaders and other well-meaning people in the respective communities and beyond.
For most of these farmers who have lost their parcels of land and livelihoods, the advent of jatropha in Ghana is a death sentence, and the production of biofuels which has become almost a new craze in the agro-industrial sector, is not only a veritable violation of human rights but a threat to the environment.
The lamentable situation has even attracted environmentalists and non-governmental agencies like ‘Food Span’, a food security advocacy network.
The large volume of research this paper has undertaken on jatropha gives it that confidence to bring to the attention of Ghana, the risks the country runs in the unbridled rush to turn farmlands to jatropha cultivation.
In some communities, farmers have been displaced from their farms, adversely affecting household food security. Land tracts of lands are being cleared, destroying vegetative cover, with the consequent negative impact on the environment and biodiversity, water bodies and aquatic life.
For instance, the land acquired close to the Volta Lake is putting the lake at the mercy of the alleged increasing use of agro-chemicals by the company, posing serious threat to biodiversity (flora and fauna) and human life as a result of air and water pollution.
The saddest part of all these is that, in some of the communities, there virtually have been no consultation with the stakeholders before the commencement of the ambitious jatropha projects, a clear affront to human rights.
In recapitulation, food security is severely threatened as jatropha takes over the fertile lands used for food crops, vegetable production and animal grazing.
Our information is that one company has acquired 700 acres of land out of which 49 acres have been planted. Another has acquired 500 acres and put 50 acres under jatropha cultivation.
It has also come to our attention that the jatropha plant is toxic and, therefore, not edible by all kinds of animals. How sure are Ghanaians that after many years of cultivating land with a crop that is said to be toxic, the land will still be good for food cultivation and animal grazing?
Ghana, without doubt, urgently needs a comprehensive national policy on biofuel production that reflects the interests of the people as well as guaranteeing sustainable development and national sovereighly.
