Moving Towards Food Security: YARA Leads The Way

The pluralistic and diverse agriculture system in Ghana and the process of globalization has thrown up new challenges for farmers, government and the private sector. This calls for new thinking on the research, development and dissemination of new agricultural techniques. There is therefore an imminent need to move from primary agriculture to secondary agriculture and productivity to health and nutrition. In Ghana, YARA seem to be leading the way in meeting the growing and ever improving needs of farmers to increase food security by increasing yield and output to new pathways that aim at providing livelihood security and poverty alleviation. In 2008 for example, YARA demonstrated its commitment in Ghana�s agricultural sector when it established the Masara N�arziki Programme (meaning �Maize for Prosperity�) in partnership with Wienco Ghana Ltd. Masara N�arziki Farmers Association (MAFA) is the culmination of Industrial Maize Program with about 8,500 strong-memberships. Among other things, the programme consists of the provision of fertilizers, hybrid seeds, herbicides, insecticides, spraying equipment, innovative farm implements and technical advisory and training services to farmers on credit. Since the introduction of the MAFA, a lot of the members have had their lives and that of their dependants� transformed in several ways. One of such farmers is Mohammadu Nindow, a 54 year old farmer in Duyin, a village near Tamale. Nindow is married to 3 wives and 21 children. According to him, before joining the programme, he could harvest only 3 to 5 bags of maize per acre and could barely take good care of his family. But today it�s a different story, Nindow now harvests about 15 to 20 bags of maize per acre every season, he has also constructed a new house, taking good care of his family including the education of his children and has purchased a new motorbike to help him in his farm and domestic activities � Nindow and other hundred farmers across the country have a YARA story to tell every day. Additionally, late last year, YARA reiterated its CSR initiative with the establishment of a 15-acre maize farm and the construction of a GHC 20, 000 potable water project to support the Royal Seed Home at Adupong Ofankor in Kasoa. The 15-acre farm is a pilot for a �Farmers� Academy� instituted by YARA with the aim of introducing agriculture and its best practices to the youth for them to better appreciate opportunities in the sector. This initiative has a potential not only to market Ghana�s agricultural potential but also serve as an important vehicle to educate people especially the youth to get into agriculture and in so doing contribute in increasing food production in the country. YARA, the world's leading producer and marketer of mineral fertilizers since its establishment in Ghana in 2007, continue to strengthen the quality and depth of input supply and related services along agricultural value chains to increase the productivity of Ghanaian farmers. After 6 years of intensive work and promotion on the benefits of good agricultural practices on the cocoa and maize sectors, YARA continues to increase in record time its production capacity by 50% in order to meet the growing smallholder demand in the country. Since then, YARA has taken a leadership position in the market and has invested in the construction of 5 warehouses in Tamale, Techiman, Ejura, Wa and a bulk blending fertilizer production facility in Tema each with about 10,000 to 40,000 metric tons fertilizer holding capacity to increase smallholders� access to affordable fertilizer nationwide. YARA�s commitment to the development of Ghana�s agricultural sector has further been cemented with the establishment of 150 farmer clinics, farmer forums and educative radio sessions that marshal the support of government and other development partners for the purpose of educating and empowering farmers to increase production; productivity and quality at the same time facilitate access to markets. Through these activities, farmers are also encouraged to develop collaborative projects and seek facilitation through their local governments and other development partners. In advancing pro-poor agriculture, YARA has sensed the need for closer collaboration with government, research and development organizations focusing on pooling resources to harness the synergies leading to desired initiatives for the development of the agricultural sector. YARA has also demonstrated its support for government with it continues support for the Government subsidy programme on fertilizer and has become a key partner in developing sustainable agriculture, improving productivity and increasing production � moving towards food security. Ghanaian farmers need seeds, fertilizers, and other farm inputs that are accessible and affordable. Facilities must be in place for farmers� production and post-harvest needs � YARA is committed to support the develop�ment of Ghana�s agricultural sector and food production and in addition, invest across the agricultural value chain.