Farmers in the Upper East Region have begun counting their losses due to scarcity of fertilizer coupled with a hike in prices.
For almost two weeks now since the beginning of July 2021, farmers are struggling to find the government’s planting for Food and Jobs fertilizers to apply their crops.
The situation however is making farmers start concluding that this year’s season would not be a good one and could experience post-harvest losses.
Comparing last year to this year, the farmers say is a nightmare as this year has already revealed that there is no future in farming and for them as farmers.
Speaking on Day Break Upper East show on A1 Radio, Reverend John Akaribo of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana said the situation has put fear and panic among their members as some could not even get a single bag of fertilizer to apply their farms.
There is no blessed day that you would not see a trailer loaded with fertilizers passing through the road but the question is where did they normally offload them, he asked.
He added, “We do not know how but we are having many worries that some of us will not make a grain this year”.
Shifting from chemical to organic farming, Rev. Akaribo said will be the way to go as pleasant farmers as the season and times are not promising to them.
Mr Atulik Daniel, Secretary to the Builsa Commercial Rice Farmers Association also noted that majority of their members are in a dilemma as they could not get fertilizers to buy despite having the money.
He added that they have made contacts with authorities that matter but little information and assurance have been given as feedbacks.
Mr Atulik however called on the government to intervene to prevent them from experiencing post-harvest losses.
Mr Francis Ennor who is Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has assured the farmers of better days ahead.
He promised the farmers that within two weeks they will start receiving the number of fertilizers they dare need as he has made consultations with authorities as well as some of the input dealers.
Mr Ennor however explained that the price adjustment came as a result of some external factors hence farmers should bear with the input dealers.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has said that he has filed an urgent question on the floor of Parliament on Friday, 16 July 2021 asking the Agric Minister to explain the predicament of the farmers.
He noted that Parliament ought to investigate the subsidy programme to find out what has been the pricing arrangement and payment regime.
Source: A1radioonline.com/101.1 MHz/Moses Apiah/Ghana
