Some 83 farmers in Ketu South have received a total of 358 bags of fertilisers (244 NPK, 114 Urea) through the Government’s Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II (PFJ II) programme.
More farmers in the municipality are expected to receive fertilisers in the ongoing inputs credit distribution to enable them to apply the right amounts to their crops for greater productivity.
Mr Kafui Agbe, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, in an interview with Ghana News Agency during the distribution of the inputs, disclosed that about 202 of the farmers registered under the PFJ II made the requests and 83 had theirs supplied.
He gave the assurance that all farmers who made requests for the inputs would have the supplies and that the system, currently closed, would soon be opened for distribution to continue.
Mr Agbe urged more farmers to register under the PFJ II using a mobile and web application platform called Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GHAAP) and put in requests for inputs to reap the benefits of the programme.
“I urge every farmer to register in the ongoing process through the technical officers to enjoy the benefits of the programme. The PFJ II is a reality and with its underpinning model – Input Credit System, which is getting aggregators to supply inputs to farmers for production at zero-interest, market for produce, financing for seed and fertiliser will no longer be issues to our farmers.”
Mr Alfred Kharty, owner of Creative Tribe, the company supplying the inputs to Ketu South, encouraged the farmers to make more requests to help in their work and pay for the inputs using their produce after harvesting, in line with the design of the project.
While some of the farmers were happy they registered and made the requests, others regretted they did not take the opportunity to register. Some farmers were also unhappy that the system did not approve what they requested.
An excited Mr Mawuwoe Xesumali, 2023 Regional Best Farmer, who received 20 bags of NPK and 10 bags of urea, said the inputs would improve the growing of crops on his farms.
Mr Roger Xede Ayisu, who received a bag of NPK, said he doubted the inputs would truly be supplied and so, requested for just one to avoid disappointment and that he would go back to make the actual request needed for his farm.
The Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II, an improvement on the initial programme where government subsidised inputs for farmers for production, introduces aggregators (companies) who supply the inputs to registered farmers.
After production, these farmers are expected to pay for the inputs using their produce.
By Ewoenam Kpodo, GNA