Fertiliser Programme Suffers Big Blow

Government’s fertiliser subsidy programme has suffered a big blow as Yara Ghana Limited, the company that supplies more than 50% of all fertilisers used in Ghana, has pulled out of the programme.

According to the company, the main reason for opting out is to reach farmers with enough fertiliser and on time, as was done last year.

Mr Kwame Okyere, officer in charge of Marketing Downstream of Yara, said the decision to pull out was also primarily necessitated by conditions and negotiations with government that were found not to be satisfactory.

He explained that the timely delivery of fertilisers to the farmers, according to the season, is Yara’s priority, saying: “We see the open market as a better way to proceed to ensure enough volumes reach as many farmers as we can.

“Yara supplied more than half of the demand last year and our imports this year will be higher than last year,” he said.

He explained that the availability of its fertilisers on the open market only, in time for the fertiliser application season, which has just commenced, was critical to farmers.

Mr Okyere stated that Yara presently has significant volumes available to meet the strong demand that normally greets this season. 

Since it was established, the company has consistently delivered products in a timely manner to farmers in all the regions of Ghana, he added.

According to Yara’s Managing Director, Jorgen C. Arentz Rostrup, the company remains highly committed to ensuring that the farmer identifies with the Yara products through the supply of quality fertiliser at all times, as well as assigning its agronomists to work closely with the farmers to ensure high yield and quality.

“We are pleased to keep on offering farmers our products as the main fertiliser application season begins. Our products are now available in the open market only, and just as we have done in the previous years, we will support farmers attain good yields through our technical support systems and our fertiliser application training programmes that we offer nationwide.”

Rostrup added, “Our commitment to the farmers is a priority for everyone at Yara, and we will maintain our extensive import programme for 2015, making sure the farmer has access to quality fertilisers.”

In 2014, Yara supplied more than half of the consumption in Ghana through open market channels only. For 2015, Yara products will not be part of the subsidy programme. 

Yara Ghana will continue promoting sustainable agricultural productivity and the welfare of the Ghanaian farmer through the supply of the most efficient range of fertilisers in the industry, with solutions to meet the specific needs of all crops, adding value to the farmers’ activities, throughout practices and yields.

Yara reiterates its support for agriculture in Ghana and wishes to assure farmers and other stakeholders of the same premium quality fertilisers that the Yara brand is known for improving produce and increased yields.