Dealers lock up subsidised fertiliser …over gov's inability to pay for supplies made

By Helena Selby
As a result of the government's inability to reimburse input dealers of their last year's subsidised fertiliser supplied, they have threatened not to release subsidised fertiliser onto the Ghanaian market, unless it pays them for the last consignment made..

The input dealers, who claim to have more than enough subsidised fertiliser in their various warehouses, have indicated that they are aware of the shortage on the market and the troubles small scale farmers are going through, but are not prepared to incur another debt with the government.

According to them, the government, which owes them  an amount of about  GH¢35,000,000, has not made any bold step towards clearing the debt, but always gives the excuse that their payment is still in the pipeline.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra, the President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Mr. Mohammed Adam Nashiru, noted that the government's attitude towards the payment of the debt had given a clear indication that it was not prepared to fight against food insecurity in the country.

Emphasising on the rainy season, he mentioned that the month of April and May are the periods when farmers begin to plant their crops, and that the unavailability of subsidised fertiliser on the market had made it very difficult for farmers to cope with their crops.

According to the President, the agriculture sector was key to the overall economic growth and development of Ghana, as it provides employment to about 50.6% of the country's labour force, which is 42 million people, adding that the sector as well provides livelihoods to about 80% of the rural folk.

He said agriculture had the potential of addressing the problem of graduate unemployment if conscious efforts are made to tackle the bottlenecks in the sector and link it up to industry.

He indicated that statistics had shown that Ghana's fertiliser rate was one of the lowest in the world, standing at eight kilogrammes per hectare, compared with 20 kilogrammes per hectare in sub-Saharan Africa, 99 kilogrammes per hectare in Latin America, and 149 kilogrammes per hectare in East and South East Asia.

Stating the reason for the low application, he attributed it to the high level of poverty among small scale farmers, low profit margins, and the high cost of fertiliser on the market, even when prices are reduced by 50%.

He emphasised that small scale farmers in the country were doing their best to improve upon food security in the country, however, the government's delay in releasing subsidised fertiliser for this year farming season has been a big issue for them.

According to him, they as well had a problem with the general increase in the prices of commodities due to increased fuel prices, depreciation of the cedi, climate change, and unreliable weather conditions.