Peasant farmers under the government’s flagship programme ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ have expressed worry over how their farming businesses are being impacted negatively by the lack of fertilisers.
According to them, their suppliers are not able to supply them with the fertilisers again because they said government is reluctant to pay the debts of their suppliers after distributing farmers with fertilisers for 2021 farming season.
Currently, these farmers say their livelihoods are at stake and if government fails to address their concerns, they will be left with no option than to quit farming, a situation which they believe will impact negatively on the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ Programme. Available data has indicated that agriculture sector has seen laudable increase and the role of small-holder farmers cannot be overemphasised after actively partaking in the ‘Planting for Food and Job’ programme. However, the vision of these peasant farmers seems to be dwindling because of unavailability of fertilisers for their activities.
The concerns are shared by farmers in Ashanti, North East, Upper East, Bono East, Bono and Ahafo regions.
They want government to consider their plight and to take immediate action in addressing the fertiliser shortage, especially as the raining season has just started and hence farming activities.