Farmers at Akataniase in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region have accused Extension Officers of the Planting for Food and Jobs scheme of taking monies from them for fertilizers that are meant to be given to them for free.
According to the farmers, who mostly cultivate cocoa, the officers make them commit GH₵10 for each bag of fertilizer taken and then after a year when they harvest their produce, they are made to pay the difference, depending on the number of fertilizers taken.
During the tenure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), it introduced a free fertilization programme to support farmers.
But when the New Patriotic Party (NPP)-Government took over, it replaced the programme with another programme under which farmers have to pay (GHc80) for a bag of fertilizer of which is a subsidised price.
Speaking with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu on Atinka TV’s morning show on behalf of the farmers, a former Chief Farmer, Akataniase- Amansie West, Kwaku Aboagye alleged that during the NDC’s tenure, the farmers hardly had their share of the fertilizer but when the NPP-Government assumed office, the farmers started getting the fertilizers.
Although he is of the belief that the fertilizers are supposed to be free, he claims the Extension Officers made the farmers pay an installment of GH₵10 for each bag and then later pay roughly GH₵700 when they harvest it.
The payment of the money, the Former Chief Farmer said was not only their issue, he claims some farmers at different places were taking the fertilizers for free whiles those at Akataniase pay for it.
“I have a brother at Sefwi who said the fertilizers were given to them for free. When you ask everyone, they say it was given to them for free so I don’t know why we have to pay for the fertilzers,” he quizzed.
He said when they enquired from the Chief Farmer and Agric officer at Akataniase, they said government had directed them to make the farmers pay for the fertilizer.
“We don’t have a problem with the paying, but if no one is paying then it should be like that everywhere for everyone,”he said.
