Farmers in Ghana have been assured of adequate supply of fertilizer under the flagship Planting for Food and Jobs programme in the 2022 cropping season, following some unforeseen challenges encountered in the 2021 crop season.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, gave the assurance in Parliament when he appeared on the Floor on Thursday, November 18, 2021, to give answers to an urgent Parliamentary question filed by the Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko.
The MP wanted to know “the measures the Ministry has put in place to address the complaint of farmers about the unavailability and high prices of fertilizers, and to ensure the availability of fertilizers in the 2022 crop season.”
The Minister indicated in his answer that his outfit has taken some concrete steps to ensure fertilizers are made available on time in order to avoid similar situations in the coming year.
“Recognizing the threat posed to the implementation of the Food Crop module of the Planting for Food and Jobs and Food Security in general, the Ministry is taking steps to ensure the adequate supply of fertilizer during the 2022 cropping season.
“As reported earlier, the steps are the early award of contracts to participating companies in the PFJ subsidy programme; collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to ensure prompt payment of our outstanding debt to our participating companies; and a review of offer prices to companies where necessary,” he indicated.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture also acknowledged the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has adversely affected global economic activity. A situation which he said, has manifested in price hikes of goods and services as well as the destruction of supply chains.
According to him, “No sector has been spared and developments in the fertilizer industry highlight the impact on agriculture. Substantial increases in the prices of fertilizer on the international market has contributed to inadequate supply of fertilizers to farmers across the globe including Ghana.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
