Alhaji Mohammed Lumina, Minister of Food and Agriculture has launched the 2016 agricultural subsidy programme with a subsidy on organic fertilizer.
Government has subsidized 180,000mt of granular fertilizer at a cost of GH₵ 120.0 million and organic fertilizer at a cost of GH₵ 18.0million.
Alhaji Lumina said with effect from 1st April 2016, the selling prices of the various types of fertilizers for the 2016 farming season are; GH¢ 85 per 50kg bag for compound fertilizer and GH¢ 80 per 50kg bag for Urea.
He said government was therefore subsiding fertilizers at an average of 26 per cent, adding that the modalities and pricing mechanisms for the organic fertilizer were being worked out and will be communicated to stakeholders in due course.
He explained that subsidy in organic fertilizer was because of the role organic fertilizers played in soil health, adding that apart from adding nutrients to the soils, it also improved soil structures, increases water holding capacity, improved aeration and promotes the activities of soil micro and macro organisms.
He said production and reuse of organic fertilizers also encouraged recycling and reuse of domestic waste, which was currently posing environmental hazards.
The Minister indicated that fertilizer companies participating in the subsidy programmes had been allocated quotas of various fertilizer types and those companies shall continue to import, clear the fertilizers from the ports and distribute to the regions and districts for sale to farmers by their registered sales agents.
He said MOFA intended to use electronic platform to manage the subsidy programme as part of efforts to improve efficiency and transparency in the management of fertilizer programme in Ghana.
Alhaji Lumina said farmers targeted under the subsidy programme include; smallholder farmers cultivating maize, rice, sorghum, millet and vegetables, out-grower farmers registered under recognised nucleus farmers/companies would also be considered.
