Government distributes fertiliser, improved seeds to support farmers

The Government has procured and distributed more than 37,000 metric tonnes of inorganic fertiliser and 190,561 litres of organic fertiliser to farmers across the country to reduce production costs and support food production.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku said the intervention was part of measures to cushion farmers whose incomes had been affected by floods and low commodity prices.

Speaking at an agricultural engagement in the Upper East Region, the Minister said the government had procured 730,101 bags of inorganic fertiliser, equivalent to about 37,000 metric tonnes, for distribution to farmers.

He said 190,561 litres of organic fertiliser had also been procured and distributed to support farmers across the country.

The government has also supplied improved varieties of maize, rice, pepper, onion and tomato seeds to farmers free of charge.

The Minister said the distribution was intended to reduce the financial burden on farmers and enable them to continue producing despite the challenges facing the agricultural sector.

“Farmers did not get enough income to be able to procure these inputs, and so there is a need for government to cushion farmers to produce at an affordable cost,” he said.

He said the support had been extended to agricultural districts across the country, farmer cooperatives, traditional authorities engaged in farming, faith-based organisations and schools registered under the Feed Ghana Programme.

According to the Minister, the provision of free inputs would help farmers reduce their production expenses while increasing the availability of food on the local market.

He said the government was also preparing for increased production by expanding storage facilities to accommodate the expected harvest.

“We expect a bumper harvest again this year, and we are preparing by putting up enough storage facilities to be able to accommodate the excess,” he said.

The Minister said the input support formed part of the government’s broader strategy to strengthen domestic food production and reduce the pressure on farmers caused by rising input costs and weak farmgate prices.

He said the government would continue to provide farmers with the inputs and infrastructure needed to increase productivity and improve their incomes.

The intervention comes as the government seeks to consolidate gains in domestic food production under the Feed Ghana Programme, which has encouraged farmers, schools, faith-based organisations and public institutions to participate in agriculture.

The Minister said supporting farmers with affordable inputs was necessary to ensure that increased agricultural production translated into greater food availability and more stable prices for consumers.