Peasant Farmers Want Stronger Action Against Bush Fires

The Kadjebi District Branch of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has requested the government and the District Assemblies to consider bushfires as a threat to national economy and begin to engage with partners to prevent the menace. It appealed to development agencies and partners to redirect their focus and investment in prevention and management measures as it holds the key to investments for food security, climate change adaptation, health and nutrition. These were contained in a release signed by Mr Asiedu Biney, Chairman of the Kadjebi PFAG, and copied to the Ghana News Agency. Mr Biney expressed optimism that advocating the enforcement of anti-bushfire bye-laws, mainstreaming implementation of fire prevention and fighting mechanisms and educating stakeholders would eradicate the perennial menace. He said the preventive and management strategies would result in 20 percent reduction in bushfires and its effects, thereby potentially increasing farmers� incomes by at least 30 percent and generally improve livelihoods and food security, according to PFAG's study. It urged educational and religious institutions and organised groupings to join forces to make anti-bushfire campaigns a core part of their training and other activities. The statement entreated traditional authorities to deploy structures and resources to fight bushfires and its debilitating effects on humans and the environment. It called on all farmers and communities not to relent on their efforts to ensure the menace was minimised towards eradication.