The Programs Manager of Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) Charles Nyaaba has said that there is likely to be a shortage of grains especially maize because of the absence of fertilizer subsidy last year.
Mr. Nyaaba speaking to Rite news in an interview speculated that there is likely to be a shortage of maize in the country between May and June because of the low yield of maize last year stressing “we are likely to experience a shortage of maize in the system”.
Mr.Nyaaba said, even though the government has committed to roll over fertilizer subsidy for this year, the twenty (20) percent subsidy envisaged on the input is not enough to bring down the price of fertilizer to meet the pockets of peasant farmers.
He said, while prices of food had relatively stabilized, the cost of inputs like fertilizer, weedicide pesticide and cost of tractor ploughing were going up and at the end of the day it will be difficult for the farmer.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company Mr. Eric Osei Owusu has said that there is no cause for alarm “we are in the process of replenishing the buffer stock.”
He said the shortage of one commodity did not imply any food crisis looming over the country adding, there is a lot of cassava and a lot of other food commodities.
By: Richard Dankwah
