By: Ishmael Newton Ogah
Following allegations of heavy politicization of fertilizer and other farm inputs against the Asuogyaman District Assembly in the Eastern Region, the Agric extension officer for the district, Mr. Kwaku-Duah has flatly denied the allegations. Mr. Duah has in an interview with Rite news elaborated on what he says is a transparent means of distributing the fertilizer.
Mr. John Adakwah, a farmer based in the Asuogyaman district of the eastern region had made the damning allegation, questioning the process and means of distributing certain farm inputs such as fertilizers in the district. Mr. Adarkwah accused distribution officials of politicizing the process by favouring only party faithful resulting in only few people benefiting.
He told Rite news that subsidized fertilizer provided by the government is distributed to the farmers in the district through registered dealers who import them into the country. He said before this is done, the district first inspects the fertilizer, do their verification before providing farmers with passbook that will enable them have access to the subsidized fertilizer.
He however admitted that farmers in their bid to access the subsidized fertilizer are faced with many challenges. He revealed that it was proposed that they register farmers on a data based information system that will make it easier for the farmers to have access to the subsidized fertilizer, but the system could not work this out which led to the withdrawal of most of the fertilizer dealers.
Maintaining his stand that fertilizer distribution in the district is transparent, he said the district has only one dealer located at Yeniama in the Asuogyman district, who deals in the subsidized fertilizer. This makes it difficult for farmers from other communities such as Akwamu Fie, Mami Water, and Boso to access the fertilizer. This according to him is what invariably leads to suspicion.
Source: ritefmonline.org
