A significant number of Ghanaian farmers and agro-input dealers expect this year’s sharp increases in the price of agro-inputs and commodities to continue in 2023, said Madam Flora Annor, a Research Scientist with AgriVan Ventures.

Speaking to the Vaultz media, Madam Annor disclosed that all over Ghana’s media platforms, all persons seem to sing the same song that they expect farm input costs to rise further by at least a greater margin this year, while others said they expect agro-input prices to more than double even in 2023.

“All persons interviewed on the radio and television stations across the nation about the sudden rise in agro-input costs have expressed higher confidence that prices of agro-inputs are not going to come down anytime soon,” said Madam Annor

High price looms in 2023

Since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine war, a lot of doomsayers have predicted food insecurity amidst higher inflationary turnouts on goods and services in Ghana. All these predictions appear to be a reality with more danger looming for the subsequent year 2023, Madam Annor noted.

Also, adding to the discussion, Antwi Bediako, an extension officer in the Akatsi North District said “It is hard to overstate the magnitude of the cost increases farmers say they are facing”. “Although farm inputs costs have been increasing annually in the past decade, most Ghanaians said high inflation is the rule now,” he noted.

Some agro-input dealers have revealed that crop input challenges extend beyond their inflated costs to their availability. This was witnessed in an interview when some rice farmers in the Akatsi North District disclosed earlier to the Vaultz news that they had difficulties in purchasing inputs for 2022 crop season. Earlier this week some of the farmers revealed that even with money at hand, they cannot access a number of some agro-inputs needed for their farming ventures.

Positive predictions gone off-beam

Although some agri-stakeholders have held meetings with the Agriculture Minister to find a common ground for farmers to be at ease, prices of goods are still increasing by the day.

Earlier last year, the Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mohammed Hardi Tuferu, admitted that prices of food are soaring in the country but assured Ghanaians that food prices will become stable by end of 2021. He further explained that the current hike in food prices is seasonal and would be brought under control once harvesting began in August last year but his predictions didn’t see the light of the day as prices of agro-inputs and commodities skyrocketed beginning of 2022.

Around the same time, the president of Ghana Agriculture worker union, Mr Kareweh, pleaded with the minister to back the hopes of Ghanaians with scientific evidence.

Some Researchers have suggested that the government should find a way to curb the inflationary expectations of Ghanaians as the rise in commodity prices is as a result of fear and panic coupled with greed in people. Also, they have urged the government to look at how to deal with the food crises beyond the harvesting season.