Foroyaa has emphasised that all owners of a commodity should have a say in the determination of the price it is to be sold. The farmers are no exception. They own their groundnuts.
However since the colonial days those who bring commodities to the country do set the prices and even if there is price control they do have a say on where to import commodities from and how much they are to sell them to be able to make a profit. Unfortunately there has never been a tradition of involving the farmers in data collection on the prices of the groundnuts in the world and various costs involved in the purchase and transportation of their groundnuts, which is the only way to determine the fair price for their groundnuts and other cash crops.
What is also a matter of concern is the uncertainty in the manner of purchase of their crops. Farmers earn income on an annual basis. They are generally ready to sell their crops by November. Foroyaa reporters have going round meeting the presidents of seccos. Unfortunately there is no sign of buying as we go to press. This uncertainty in knowing when farmers should receive income should be avoided at all cost. Many farmers, due to such uncertainty, are selling their crops at the lummos or weekly markets so as to have cash to meet their needs.
Farmers need a fair price and timely purchase of their nuts in order to make farming sufficiently rewarding to ensure sustainable development.
