The focus the president gave to the price of groundnut during his tour gave the impression that the central government has mobilised the required funds for the purchase of the groundnuts without hitches. Now that difficulties have arisen there is no statement from central government to explain the causes of the delay in payment and the remedies put in place to address them.
It is the GGC which is being called upon by the media to explain the causes of the delays in the purchase of groundnuts and how to address them. If there is to be consistency in motivating the farmers to fetch their crops to the seccos, it is important for the GGC to have the requisite data on the volume of crops harvested and the cost involved in harvesting them. It should therefore ensure that it purchases what it could afford to purchase and establish contracts with other buyers so that they will be able to purchase the rest of the crops without delay to avoid pest infestation and exposure to environment that could lead to mouldy nuts and the spread of afflatoxin.
