The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has revealed that the shortage of yellow maize in the country is due to rainfall fluctuation and the outbreak of the novel coronavirus last year. The situation has affected the quality and price of eggs on the market.
Poultry farmers explained that they are challenged in getting yellow maize. Thus, the cost of feed for their production activities has increased thereby leading to high egg prices.
Speaking in an interview, the Press Secretary to the Agric Ministry, Issah Alhassan gave an explanation to the situation. He said the ministry recorded a little over 1.9 million tones of maize due to the rains which affected production in 2019. Judging from this level, he revealed that the expectation this year is to hit 3.0 million tones of maize.
“Last year, we had an issue with production because of the fluctuations in the rainfall and COVID-19. After the opening of boarders, we also exported some of the maize to neighbouring countries due to the trade relations with ECOWAS.”
Mr. Alhassan is however optimistic that the next harvest season will resolve the issues of shortage of maize. He added that the ministry has given a permit for importation of the yellow maize. Meanwhile, traders realised that it won’t be economically prudent to import into the country in the face of a pandemic.
“We are really concern that we are going to experience these little shortages. However, this should be resolved soon because in the next few months, we will have harvest coming in to make up for the shortfalls.”
He, therefore, pleaded with consumers and businesses in the sector to “bear with us, since very soon the challenges will be over and things will get back to normal.”
Newage Agric Solutions Limited to supplement maize production this season
Newage Agric Solutions has planned to have about 1000MT imported hybrid maize seeds for 2021 cropping season. The company assured Ghanaian farmers access to good quality hybrid maize seeds. The company is the first to have imported the Lake hybrid maize seed in the country.
Speaking at the launch of the hybrid seed, Deputy Director from PPRSD, Mr. Eric B. Quaye commended the company for its immense achievement despite the Covid-19 pandemic. He said that Newage is the “first company to have brought in seed and also the first to invite us for testing.” He further assured the public that his outfit will do its best to ensure a smooth partnership with Newage.
On his part, the CEO of Newage Agric Solutions Limited, Mr. William Kotey emphasized that agriculture is time-bound particularly in the country. He therefore expressed his outfit’s commitment to make quality maize seeds readily available to farmers on time.
“It is important that as suppliers we endeavour to make conscious efforts to make such quality products available in a timely manner. We are here today against this background– to satisfy our farmers who need these improved seeds sooner than we think.”
Mr. William Kotey, CEO of Newage Agric Solutions
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