Farmerline Celebrates Farmers As Silent Heroes In The Fight Against COVID-19

Ghanaian agric technology firm Farmerline has hailed farmers in Ghana and around the world as the silent heroes in the ongoing fight against the coronavirus pandemic – COVID-19.

A statement released in Accra and copied Cocoa Post said, “as we show gratitude to healthcare workers who continue to keep us safe during this pandemic, we will also like to highlight the work of another group of frontline workers who deserve immense praise: farmers.”

Healthcare workers the world over continue to receive well-deserved plaudits for their heroic dedication to fighting COVID-19.

War on Empty Stomach

And just like health workers, Farmerline’s Worlali Senyo, believes farmers have proven their work is more critical now than ever.

Farmers “are the most critical force in overcoming this pandemic because you can not win a war on an empty stomach.”

In the face of lockdown and social distancing protocols, the work of farmers never stopped, as they continued the arduous tasks of ensuring food production does not cease.

Fears of Global Food Insecurity

Food shortages have been reported across the world with supermarkets imposing restrictions on the number of products customers can buy, with some countries temporarily banning the export of rice, for example, to shore up their stocks.

From the packaged food on the shelf to the policy expert who implements measures to protect food security and what you are putting in your pot most likely started with a farmer, the Farmerline statement noted.

It stated further, while many services have become redundant during this pandemic, food has remained essential to feed populations, and to sustain economies.

“In Ghana, the season has already started and farmers cannot wait, they have forged ahead with the business of producing to feed people and for their incomes. However, if this is not managed well and supported could lead to the next global disaster of massive food insecurity“, he warned.

Ayekoo! to farmers across the world

Across Africa, farming is key to survival – it accounts for at least 15% of the region’s GDP, and about two-thirds of the African population is employed within the sector, the vast majority working on small-scale farms that currently produce around 90% of all output.

Despite the pandemic, these farmers still go to their farms. They continue to weed, sow, and harvest during this period, while many of us stay home. Their toil has meant drivers still have goods to transport, factories have raw materials to process, markets still have food to sell, and we can still eat.

This is in the backdrop of traditional challenges like lack of access to inputs namely seeds and fertilizer, irrigation technology and access to financial assistance to improve their businesses.

Farmers also continue to face unpredictable climates, which affects planting and harvesting.

These are all issues we at Farmerline as well as our partners across the world are trying to address, but like COVID-19 won’t be stamped out tomorrow, these challenges will take time to be overcome.

It is for these that “we at Farmerline say a major Ayekoo (kudos) to farmers here in Ghana, Africa and across the world for their essential work, especially during this pandemic.”