The membership of Peasant Farmers Association of Kwahu East in the Eastern Region is demanding a compensation of GHC107,490,000 from National Association of Cattle farmers.
According to them, there are 52,800 peasant farmers in Kwahu East, representing 60% of the entire population in the district.
Complaints were received from 42,000 of its members in 2017 in connection with damages caused by cattle.
An average farm size of its members is 1.8 acres, therefore 75,600 acres of cultivated farms were destroyed by cattle in 2017.
Crops that were destroyed include; maize, cassava, tomatoes, groundnut and plantain. The average cost of production of these crops is GHS 1,200 per acre of land.
“This means our members lost GHC 90,720,000 in the year 2017.
DISPLACEMENT OF 1,552 PEASANT FARMERS;
A total of 1,552 of our members had to desert their communities due to the activities of criminal herdsmen, which made 9 communities turned into ghost towns in 2017.
The Association therefore demands a compensation of GHC 10,000 per each farmer for resettlement, and that makes the total cost GHC 15, 520,000.
BURNING OF HOUSES OF OUR MEMBERS;
A total of 13 houses in two communities were set ablaze by unscrupulous herdsmen in 2017. The Peasant farmers therefore demands an average cost of GHC 30, 000 per each house, making the total GHC 390, 000.
KILLING OF INNOCENT PEASANT FARMERS;
A total of 17 people were shot by herdsmen in 2017. Only 7 people survived but with degrees of of serious injury.
The Association demands GHC 50,000 to be paid to each of the families of the dead, and GHC 30,000 per each of the injured persons. That makes the total compensation GHC 710,000.
RAPPING OF WIVES OF PEASANT FARMERS;
A total of 5 women on record were raped by criminal herdsmen in 2017. The Association demands a compensation of GHC 30, 000 per each of the women for the psychological trauma caused. We therefore demands a total of GHC150,000.
Association Chairman of the Kwahu East Peasant farmers, Owusu Addo claims their atrocities are beyond that of the Fulani herdsmen.
Listen to Mr Owusu
The Peasant Farmers are therefore appealing to the government to facilitate the early payment of the compensation.
Meanwhile, the Fulani herdsmen are yet to respond to the call of the peasant farmers.
