By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, Oct. 21, GNA— Yara Ghana Limited, a leading crop nutrition solutions company, has donated an amount of GHS 25,000 to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture towards the celebration of this year’s National Farmers’ Day celebration.
This year’s donation reaffirms the Company’s long-standing commitment to celebrating and rewarding the hard work of farmers, who play a vital role in contributing to strengthen the economy and ensuring food security in Ghana.
The Company also supported National Farmers’ Day celebrations in many farming districts across the country.
Since Yara Ghana began operations in 2007, it has consistently supported the National Farmers’ Day Celebrations by donating cash and crop nutrition solutions to support the Ministry’s awards to farmers.
Ms Theresa Randolph, Country Manager, Yara Ghana, presenting the donation reaffirmed the Company’s drive to uplift farmers across the nation.
She emphasised that the Company’s involvement in the National Farmers’ Day Celebrations reflected the it’s broader goal of empowering and supporting farmers at all levels.
“As a company focused on supporting farmers, we recognise the essential role they play in the country’s progress and any initiative aimed at appreciating and rewarding farmers is one we are proud to support,” Ms Randolph stated.
The Country Director said the support for the agricultural sector was rooted in a long-term vision of sustainability and the ambition to “growing a nature-positive food future”.
The Company, she said, recognised that the future of farming depended on the ability to balance productivity with environmental responsibility.
Ms Randolph said hence, the Company by promoting sustainable farming practices helped ensure that the country’s agricultural sector remained resilient and capable of meeting the needs of future generations.
The County Manger said the Company was deeply engaged in helping farmers improve their productivity by providing fertilizers at national, regional, and district levels.
She said it offered a range of high-quality fertilizers tailored to meet the needs of diverse agricultural conditions in Ghana.
Yara Ghana, Ms Randolph said recently introduced YaraVita CropLift Bio, a new foliar fertilizer designed to further enhance crop nutrition.
She said that was part of its ongoing efforts to provide innovative solutions that supported sustainable agricultural practices, ensuring the prosperity of farmers and contributing to the country’s food security.
The Country Director said the Company had addressed soil deficiencies and promoted sustainable farming practices through innovative interventions that helped farmers to improve productivity while minimising their environmental impact.
Ms Randolph said the Company’s core focus was to empower farmers with practical and science-based solutions that would help them increase their yields and improve the quality of their crops.
She said it offered practical knowledge and solutions through its extension services, and conducted research to create affordable, environmentally friendly crop nutrition solutions for farmers.
“These extension services offer farmers hands-on practical training and guidance on best agronomy practices that improve soil health efficiency to aid farmers optimise production of their output, increase and improve crops quality and maximise their profitability,” the Country Director said.
Ms Randolph said the efforts were aimed at addressing the specific needs of Ghanaian farmers, promoting better yields, and improving the overall quality of agricultural produce.
“Yara Ghana also organises crop clinics across various regions, creating opportunities for farmers to engage with agricultural experts and receive advice on improving their farming practices. These interactive forums are valuable in bridging knowledge gaps and empowering farmers with the tools they need to succeed,” she stated.
The Country Director said the Company recognised the importance of collective action and worked closely with farmer-based organisations to support smallholder farmers to ensure that farmers had access to resources, technical support and advice, and the latest advancements in agricultural technology.
She said in 2023, Yara Ghana strengthened its connection with retailers by recognising and awarding 198 retailers through the YaraConnect Loyalty programme.
The programme is driven through a digital platform (YaraConnect) that had been designed for Yara retailers to sell through and accumulate points for rewards.
The platform, Ms Randolph said had already proven effective in bridging gaps within the agricultural supply chain and fostering sustainable practices nationwide.
She said Yara Ghana donated over 18,000mt, the equivalent of 360,000 bags of YaraMila Actyva fertilizer to farmers through an initiative called Yara Grow Ghana to empower and support farmers especially smallholder.
The Country Director said it ensured that smallholder farmers had access to fertilizer to sustain food production in the country, in a period when the global cost of fertilizers was very high and availability was a major challenge.
She said a total of 111,609 farmers benefited, including the youth, women and people living with disabilities.
Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture and Chairman of the National Farmers’ Day Planning Committee, expressed gratitude for the Company’s ongoing commitment.
He commended Yara Ghana for its financial contributions and its proactive role in enhancing farmers’ livelihoods through technical support and sustainable practices.
“We are deeply thankful for Yara Ghana’s commitment to the farming community. Your contributions are making a meaningful impact in Ghana’s agricultural sector,” Mr Frimpong Addo stated.
The Deputy Minister emphasised the importance of partnerships like Yara Ghana’s with the Ministry in achieving national food security and strengthening the agricultural economy.
GNA