A delegation of senior leaders from across Ukrainian civil society has visited a number of rice farms in Akatsi South to ascertain the effects of recent price hike of farming inputs on the activities of the farmers.
During interaction with the delegation, the farmers identified a litany of challenges they are facing since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
Major among the challenges, according to the rice farmers, is the high price of fertilizer, which is impacting negatively on the rice production in the Volta region and subsequently the price of food in the country.
The Chairman of the Local Rice Farmers Association, Richard Odzor, affirmed that most farmers cannot afford fertilizers, a situation which will have a negative impact on their yields.
He maintained “most of the farmers quit from the business because they don’t have capital or money to buy the inputs. So, few farmers try their best and to still be in the business.
“As you can see the rice on this field needs fertilizer and now the fertilizer Uriah one bag costs GHc500 and unfortunately that GHc500 too the fertilizer itself is not in the system to buy.”
Courage Kwasshigah of Kourage Investment Matrix Limited, added that the cost of hiring combined harvesters and ploughing the farmlands have increased exponentially over the time.
This development, according to him, sends a strong signal that there could be potential food insecurity in the country if care is not taken, saying that the Ukraine war has a huge impact on the activities of the farmers.
A member of the delegation, Dr Oleg Nivievskyi, who is also Vice President of Economic Education, Associate Member at the Center for Food and Land Use Research at the Kyiv School of Economics, disclosed that fertilizer production levels have dropped significantly in Ukraine and export channels have been blocked due to the Russian invasion.
“The war in Ukraine challenges international rules of trade. Trade is what is needed to bring fertilizers from other countries to Ghana and this is not happening right now because Russia challenges that,” he added.
Another member of the delegation, Dr Olexiy Haran, a Professor of Comparative Politics, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (UKMA), stressed that everything possible must be done to stop the war in order to stabilize farm inputs.
While in Ghana, the delegation also conducted a series of high-level meetings with policymakers, senior government officials, and representatives from the business community and civil society.
Meeting a number of government officials, Members of Parliaments (MPs), civil society organizations and individuals in the country, the delegation discussed the realities of the current situation in Ukraine, its impact on Nigeria and Ghana.
The high-level Ukrainian delegation pledged their support to farmers.
The Volta Region is noted for its high rice production rate in Ghana.
The region contributes huge tonnes of paddy rice to the country’s rice production capacity.
