New fertilizer depot under construction at Pankese
A 6000 metric ton capacity fertilizer depot is being constructed by Sakant Enterprise Limited, a private Agro-chemical distributor in the country, at Pankese near Nkawkaw.
The facility which is at the roofing stage is estimated to cost GH¢ 200,000 when completed.
It is expected to contain 100,000 bags of fertilizers to be distributed to farmers in eight districts in the Akyem, Kwahu and the Afram-Plains areas.
Inspecting the project, the Executive Director for Sakant, Mr Kwaku Amoah Sarfo, said the project was being supported by the Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP) in collaboration with the Agribusiness Partnership Contracts (APCs) with an amount of 13,000 US dollars.
Mr Sarfo said as part of the measures to sustain productivity in the country, farmers would be educated on the appropriate application of the fertilizer to get the required yield.
Dr Namanva Ngogi, Chairman of the Board of Trustee of AFAP, said the inadequate yield experienced by farmers in the country was due to poor planting methods and the poor application of fertilizers on their crops.
He appealed to farmers and other stakeholders to take advantage of the project and apply the needed quantity of fertilizer on their crops to increase food production in the country.
Professor Richard Mandawira, Vice President of AFAP, said the contract was a flexible union between the public and private sector to offer an innovative approach to establish more a competitive and sustainable fertilizer to benefit the small scale farmers.
The Country Director of AFAP, Mr Francis Mensah, disclosed that the project would offer credit guarantee to fertilizer distributors and retailers as well as offer financial assistance to importers interested in entering the African markets.
The farmers appealed for financial assistance to purchase the fertilizers and agriculture extension services to educate them on the improved methods of farming to increase their yield.
Source: GNA
GHANA SHOULD BUILD FERTILIZER PLANT FROM RHE PETROCHEMICALS BEING PRODUCE FROM JUBILEE FIELD VERY ESSENTIAL WHICH CAN BE USE DOMESTICALLY AND EXPORT PURPOSES. TO EARN FOREIGN EXCHANGE.
It is known very well that the usage of mineral fertilizers can increase the productivity ONLY of the soils reach with organic material. But the cost of using mineral fertilizers only (without organic material) finally will be extremely high. It leads to the quick loss of the productivity and degradation of the soil. In such a way humanity loses 100 acres of productive soil every minute. This is the straight way to convert sub-Sahara territories to desert. Please have an air tour over northern regions of Ghana and you will be able to watch the dramatic difference between the color of virgin lands and the lands which are used for traditional (using mineral NPK only) agriculture. Maybe it is better to turn towards organic farming? Ghana has an inexhaustible source of organic material, meanwhile the resources of mineral NPK in the world will exhaust in 50 nearest years (and their price will grow).