Farmers in the Upper East Region say the high cost of farm inputs will affect crop yields for the 2022 farming season, warning that there could be possible food shortages if government does not drastically subsidize inputs.
According to farmers, hikes in farm inputs are compelling them to farm at below-average capacity.
They want government to release and subsidise farm inputs on a timely basis, else Ghanaians should brace themselves for hikes in foodstuff.
Speaking to Citi News, farmers bemoaned that, the over 50 percent hike in farm inputs, fertilizer, and agrochemicals are making the venture more challenging and thus will negatively affect crop yields and food security.
A commercial farmer, Awinetuma Akande said “Most of us farmers are running out from farming maize this year if prices of fertilizer are not reduced because in some places they sell them at GH¢400.00 and GH¢450.00 compared to last year where it was GH¢120.00. And if nothing is done about the situation, by 2023 Ghana will be having a problem on the food security side”.
“[A farm input like] Condemn was sold around GH¢25.00 last year but now it is going for GH¢48.00. That’s over 50% increment. Also, fertilizer is going for between GH¢400 and GH¢500 so, if you don’t have the money, you cannot farm this year. There will be a food shortage because only a few and only those who can afford can farm this year, and also the farmers may have to reduce the number of acres farmed last year,” Mumuni Zakaria, a farmer lamented.
Another farmer, David Ayawini explains why he will not farm this year.
“Last year, I farmed maize, rice, and millet but this year because of the high cost of fertilizer and agrochemicals I cannot farm. Last year some agrochemicals were GH¢25.00, but this year is GH¢50.00. Again, fertilizer last year was GH¢200.00 but now it is about GH¢400.00. If I check the cost of the inputs, if I keep the money and after the farming season I use to buy foodstuff it’s better than farming this year”.
Fertilizer and agrochemical distributors in the region blamed high import duties, the depreciation of the cedi, and high fuel prices for the hikes in farm inputs.
They assert that the situation could get worse if the government does not address their concerns.
Warehouse manager of PETASCO Enterprise, Yidana Caswell, said while PFJ fertilizer increased from GH¢53.00 last year to GH¢160.00 this year, fertilizer in the open market moved from GH¢250 last year to GH¢450.00 this year due to transport and import cost.
“Last year it cost us GH¢9.00 to transport a bag of fertilizer from Tema to Bolgatanga, but this year it is costing GH¢15.00 to transport from Tema to Bolga. Transportation and importation costs have gone high, the depreciation of the cedi is accounting for the high prices of farm inputs and agrochemicals”.
But Upper East Regional Director of MOFA, Francis Ennor, explains the cause for the hikes in farm inputs and encouraged farmers to consider organic fertilizer as an alternative to boost productivity.
“The prices are actually higher compared to last year and that’s from the international market because the fertilizer that we use is imported from the international market. And most of the fertilizer are coming from Ukraine and Russia, and their war has made it hard for the whole world. For this year, subsidized NPK and Urea fertilizer is going for GH¢160.00 per 25kg which is almost thrice the price last year”.
“The high cost of fertilizer will actually affect productivity because they will not be able to maintain the farm size cultivated last year. We are telling farmers to reduce their farm size by half for cereal crops and use the remaining for leguminous crops that don’t need fertilizer. We are also encouraging our farmers to use more organic fertilizers which cost between GH¢30 and GH¢63.00 per 25kg instead of chemical fertilizers.