Farmers want fertilizers to reach them in April

Small scale farmers in the Upper West, Upper East and Northern regions are asking government to make available fertilizers and other farm input to them in April each year.

The farmers said they were also interested in knowing the sources and manufacturing firms as well as the quality of the fertilizers provided them.

They explained that some fertilizers provided farmers rather hindered the growth of crops and affected yields, while government subsidised fertilizers came late and brought no benefit to them.

The Upper West Regional Farmers Based Organisation Network raised those concerns at a training workshop on Agriculture Policy and Advocacy in Wa, sponsored by USAID.

“Subsidised fertilizers are not reaching small scale farmers. We are also neglected in the allocation of tractors and we are unable to expand our acreages and production,” Mr Anthony T. Ngmentome, the Chairman of the Network, said.

He said the denial in allocation of tractors and other farm machinery was affecting their operations and livelihoods and needed to be addressed.

“Henceforth the organisation would press for the rights to negotiations for the type of tractors and farm machinery as well as inputs needed for agricultural production,” he said.

Mr Ngmentome said the Network would lobby local and national authorities for better farm machinery and services.

He urged government to consider engaging more agricultural extension officers to help educate farmers on modern farming practices to enhance food production.

Meanwhile, farmers in the Upper West Region are in dire need of tractors to plough their farms.

Several farmers in the communities are found queuing for tractor services which are not available.

Source: GNA