[ 2017-01-27 ]

Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto

Stopping fertiliser smuggling is key for agric – Dr. Afriyie Akoto
The Minister Nominee for Agriculture, Dr. Owusu
Afriyie Akoto has stated that the smuggling of
fertilizer outside of the country are part of the
reasons for the decline in growth of the
agricultural sector.

Speaking at the appointment committee of
Parliament, Dr. Afriyie Akoto maintained that the
development has resulted in farmers receiving
inadequate amounts of fertilizer to increase their
yield.

The Minister Nominee was optimistic of increased
yields should farmers be given adequate amount of
fertilizers and inputs at an affordable price
production will be greatly increased.

“Regarding the supply of fertiliser, the actual
amount of contributions that was going to farmers
was far less than what was claimed by the regime.


As a matter of fact, there were reports of mass
smuggling of chemicals across West Africa and
former President Mahama actually confirmed this
incident during one of his visits,” he
asserted.

The issue, in the Agric Economist’s view has
extended to other countries in the sub-region;
Cameroon and Niger.

This he argues has deprived Ghanaian farmers of
their due in terms of the fertiliser subsidy
program. In effect,

Dr. Akoto has blamed the low producer price for
farmers on the perpetration of the illegal
activity.

Citi Business News earlier reported that the
government had defaulted on payments for suppliers
of subsidized fertilizers since 2012.

This led to the suspension of fertilizer supplies
to fruit and vegetable farmers across the country,
as suppliers demanded their outstanding arrears.

Some farmers went out of business following
complaints about the high cost of inputs and lack
of support from the government.

According to the then Minister of Food and
Agriculture, Clement Kofi Humado, government was
working on paying the arrears by the end of the
week in which the matter arouse.

“The problem we are having currently where
fertilizers are not reaching farmers right now is
because we owe arrears to suppliers from 2012, we
haven’t paid, and the companies are no more
ready to participate in the subsidy program.

It is an issue I’m taking up with the then
Minister of Finance and the President”, he
said.

According to Mr. Humado, government will consider
all its options, including suspending the
fertilizer subsidy program.

Source - citifmonline.com

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