Agric minister asked farmers to move from chemical fertilizer application, provides an alternative

The Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has called for Ghanaian farmers to switch to the use of organic fertiliser to improve food production as the prices of inorganic fertiliser keep soaring.

“The official policy of the ministry for farmers to take advantage of the shortage of inorganic fertilizer on the global market to encourage farmers to switch to organic fertilisers”

Farmers in the country this year have complained about the delay and shortages of supply of fertilisers under the government’s “Planting for Food and Jobs” policy. The situation the farmer say affects the farming business.

The sector minister, Dr. Akoto who was in the Upper East Region said Ghana and for that matter, some African countries depend largely on the supply of inorganic fertiliser from Russia. Unfortunately, he said the impact of the Russian war in Ukraine has contributed negatively to the importation of fertilizer for farmers in the country.

As an alternative, Dr. Akoto has therefore admonished extension officers in the region to encourage farmers to switch to organic fertiliser using waste on their farmlands and livestock.

“In regions like yours and the Savannah, where you have a high animal population, you should be able to encourage the farmers both in their households where they have lots of livestock and plants.

“There is a lot of wastage of plant material which can be captured and used to formulate organic fertilisers free of charge.

“The directors of agriculture at the district level and extension officers should embark on teaching farmers how to formulate local organic fertilisers which are much cheaper and equally effective and good for soil health”, he stated.

The minister was addressing stakeholders of agriculture in Bolgatanga as part of his working visit to the Upper East Region.