Farmers warn of possible famine should government fail to pay fertiliser producers

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana says government must immediately pay fertiliser debts owed suppliers or risk fertilizer and food shortages in 2022.

The warning follows a shortage of the commodity this year which made it difficult for farmers to produce enough food to meet the country’s demands.

At a press conference, the Association’s Director, Charles Nyaaba said although government has invested in its flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs companies who import the fertilizers must be remunerated.

“In 2021, there was a shortage of fertilizers in the market and all was because government owed fertilizer companies for what they supplied in 2020.

“So we hope that government makes the allocation and release the money and pay these companies so that we will be able to get fertilizer,” he said.

Touching on government’s E-base initiative, Mr Nyaaba said it will help track the distribution of the fertilizers and seed supplies.

“The policy, according to the minister, will register and create an electronic database of farmers to provide ready access to relevant information such as; farm size, digital location, type of crop, yields, and market linkages with the ultimate aim to improve tracking, targeting, efficiency and transparency in public support programme to the sector,” he told the media.

Source: Ghana News