Ghanaian smallholder farmers have voiced concerns over the government’s fertiliser subsidy program’s funding delays, stating that the situation is endangering both their livelihoods and the nation’s food security.
Mr. Douglas Annor, President of the Peasant Farmers Association (PFA), stated that the delays were putting a great deal of strain on farmers who were already dealing with growing production expenses and poor crop returns.
According to Mr. Annor, the group had sent an official letter outlining the difficulties to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, but had not heard back.
He urged officials to expedite the supply of subsidised inputs, saying, “We have formally written to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture regarding this critical issue, but we have yet to receive a response.”
A funding delay between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, which is in charge of distributing subsidised fertiliser, and the Ministry of Finance, which is in charge of releasing the cash, is the root of the farmers’ worries.
Many farmers now lack access to reasonably priced fertiliser at a critical juncture in the growing season due to the delay.
Since 2025, some farmers claim they have not benefited from fertiliser subsidies, which has forced many to either reduce the size of their farms or purchase inputs at higher market prices.
Opanin Kwaku Ntiamoah, a seasoned farmer in Goaso in the Ahafo Region, stated that the situation was impacting household incomes and crop productivity.
“The farms are hungry. Without fertiliser, the crops cannot grow well, and without good harvests, we cannot take care of our families,” he stated.
Farmers are becoming increasingly frustrated, according to reports from farming towns like Ejura, Nkoranza, Techiman, Goaso, and Sefwi Wiawso. Some have reported lower crop growth and financial losses as a result of limited access to farm inputs.
Additionally, farmers worry that the difficulties may deter young people from pursuing careers in agriculture, exacerbating worries about the industry’s future.
In order to preserve the current farming season, the Peasant Farmers Association is urging the government, especially the Ministries of Finance and Food and Agriculture, to immediately address the funding delays and guarantee that farmers receive fertiliser support.
Source: newsthemegh.com