Accra: The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Bismark Nortey, has called on the government to collaborate with fertiliser manufacturers and suppliers to reduce market prices. This, he argues, is necessary as the recent distribution of 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser is insufficient to meet the needs of millions of farmers across the country.
According to Ghana Web, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently distributed 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser and five agricultural drones to PFAG under the Feed Ghana Programme aimed at supporting smallholder farmers and boosting agricultural productivity. However, Nortey emphasized in an interview with Channel One News that the available quantities are inadequate given the increasing demand from farmers nationwide.
"We know that the government's policy this year, when it comes to fertilisers, is free distribution. However, there's a challenge because not all farmers will be able to access it," Nortey stated. He highlighted that although district agricultural offices and constituencies are receiving fertiliser allocations, the volumes remain insufficient for Ghana's estimated farming population of about three million people.
Nortey further explained the financial strain on government resources if it were to supply over three million bags of fertiliser. He urged the government to collaborate with fertiliser producers and suppliers to make the commodity more affordable for farmers through market-based interventions. Lower fertiliser prices, Nortey argued, would provide essential relief to farmers dealing with market challenges, produce gluts, and limited access to capital. "We all know the challenges our farmers are facing regarding access to markets, produce gluts and their inability to raise enough capital," he added.