By: Mabel Adorkor Annang
Ahead of the 2022 Budget presentation on Monday, November 15, 2021 stakeholders in the Agricultural value chain say the government must pay critical attention to persistent increase in fuel prices and fertilizer as they increase the cost of land preparation.
Also of concern is an increase in tractor charges which has shot up from GH₵ 150 to GH₵ 200 per acre depending on the area.
The price of fertilizer is also said to increase to GH₵ 300, which will also affect the operations of farmers and may result in low yields as not all farmers would get the capital to purchase fertilizer.
Speaking to GBC Business News, Director at the CSIR- Savannah Agriculture Research Institute Dr. Roger Kanton called on the government to take these concerns into consideration saying he expects the Finance Minister to announce solutions to mitigate the impact of fuel prices and fertilizers in the budget.
“Currently as we are all aware prices of everything have risen high for example you talk about fuel now a gallon is almost about thirty-one Ghana cedis that is GH₵ 6.19, per litre that is just so much now this fuel has had very dire consequences on the lump preparation next year. Factor charges were averagely between GH₵ 120, GH₵ 130 Ghana cedis this year, depending on where you are. or where I do some project work there, it ranges from GH₵ 130-150.”
”In the Upper Western Region it could range between GH₵ 120-130 or GH₵ 150 Ghana cedis so you can imagine next year, we will not anticipate tracker services for an acre less than GH₵ 200 Ghana cedis at least it will be in excess GH₵ 150 Ghana cedis.”
”Number 2 about fertilizer prices l am currently in Boko now a bag of NPK that is nitrogen phosphorus potassium fertilizer of 50 kilograms is going for GH₵ 260, as l talk so they have assured me that before the end of the year it will rise up to GH₵ 300,” he noted.
