Rice farmers in the Akatsi South District have disclosed that the rains this year have been good, but accessing inputs to boost production has been a big challenge.
The Chairman of the Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB) in the Akatsi South Municipal, Mr. Richard Odzor, told the Vaultz News that most rice farmers have not been able to buy the needed amount of inputs for farming because the prices of these inputs are “above their strength.” This, he said, has resulted in stunted growth of their rice seedlings.
“The rains have been falling as they should, but accessing the right quantity of inputs for our farms is the problem now. I need an average of 30 bags of fertilizer for my farm this year, but I currently have only 20 bags to manage with. We got some fertilizer suppliers from Tema, however, their price was above our strength. A bag of urea is GHS400, and a bag of NPK is GHS370. Averagely, a farmer needs two bags of urea and two bags of NPK on an acre of rice to achieve a higher yield, that is too much for us.”
Mr. Adzor
Price of paddy rice remains low amid rise in input cost
He added that the price of paddy rice, even after harvesting, doesn’t commensurate with the cost of production; hence no need to spend too much on fertilizer.
“Normally, the price of paddy is low after harvesting because of the high supply. The District doesn’t have drying floors and warehouses; hence we always are in a hurry to sell our paddy immediately after harvesting. Most farmers didn’t farm their lands this year, but the few who did say they will manage with the little fertilizer at their disposal.”
Mr. Richard Adzor
Since 2022, almost every economic crisis has been attributed to the Russia-Ukraine war. The government and citizens have repeatedly rehearsed the Russia-Ukraine war’s impact on every shortage and price rise.
In a recent interview with the Vaultz news, an agri-expert revealed that “Russia is a sovereign nation and far away from Ghana; hence they shouldn’t be blamed for Ghana’s inability to meet farmers’ needs.”
The fertilizer issue has been in the headlines, with many experts sharing their views. Some agri-experts have predicted looming food insecurity in Ghana because of the lack of fertilizers for farmers to farm with. Others have also blamed the government for failure to meet the rising demand for inputs from farmers.
Experts’ opinion on fertilizer shortages
While other-agri stakeholders have advised the government to focus on local fertilizer production, others have cautioned the Government to consider its ‘Planting For Food And Jobs’ Programme and address all the leakages.
In addressing all of the doom predictions and cautions to the government of Ghana, the Agric Minister has, in several interviews, revealed that Ghana’s agriculture state is doing well and that there is enough food to feed everyone. Also, concerning the fertilizer shortages, the minister said the Agric ministry is doing all it can to resolve the deficiencies.
Mr. Adzor revealed that fertilizers are on the market but accessing them is the problem because of the skyrocketing price. He, therefore, has appealed to all agri-related bodies and stakeholders to devise radical steps to solve all of the Ghanaian farmers’ agro-unsecured needs.
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