By Prince Nornorme, GNA
Ve Agbome (V/R), Oct. 19, GNA –Rice farmers in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region have expressed profound appreciation to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture for supporting them with 650 bags of rice seeds to boost rice production in the district.
The farmers said the supply of the 45-kilogramme bags of seeds was a significant intervention towards improving agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and supporting the livelihoods of rice farming households.
They however appealed to the Ministry for urgent additional support in the form of fertilizers to enable them to sustain production during the current season.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ve Golokuati, the farmers said they were currently confronted with serious economic challenges arising from the glut of rice produced during the previous season.
Meanwhile the District Agriculture Director, Mr Divine Senanu Agbegoe said the excess supply of rice, coupled with limited market access and inadequate purchasing capacity among buyers, had resulted in low farm-gate prices and difficulties in selling harvested paddy rice.
It said many farmers had been unable to recover their production costs, settle outstanding debts and generate sufficient income to sustain their farming activities, leaving them without the necessary capital to purchase essential inputs such as fertilizers, weedicides and pesticides.
He also noted that, although the farmers had benefited from the supply of rice seeds, access to seeds alone was insufficient to ensure successful production, and without complementary inputs, they may be compelled to apply inadequate quantities of fertilizers, leading to reduced productivity and lower-quality produce.
“The farmers are therefore facing a difficult situation: the rice glut has reduced their income, the loss of income has deprived them of the capital needed to purchase inputs, and the lack of inputs now threatens this year’s production,” the statement said.
It warned that without urgent intervention; the cycle could undermine the gains made through the Ministry’s previous support and further weaken the economic livelihoods of rice-producing households in the district.
The farmers therefore appealed to the Ministry to provide fertilizers through a targeted intervention for verified rice farmers and Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs), based on their cultivated acreage, number of beneficiaries and actual input requirements.
They further appealed to the Ministry and relevant stakeholders to facilitate access to reliable markets, rice processing facilities, storage infrastructure and institutional purchasing arrangements to help reduce distress sales and improve farmers’ bargaining power.
Mr Ibrahim Musah who is a farmer said, they remained committed to contributing to Ghana’s food security objectives and increasing domestic rice production, but said immediate assistance was necessary to enable them to return to their farms with the required inputs.
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry for its continued commitment to supporting Ghanaian farmers and expressed the hope that the appeal would be given the necessary consideration.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade