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Deputy Agriculture Minister Yaw Frimpong Addo said the government was unable to say whether the amount of food produced this year is more than that harvested last year.
According to him, such an assessment can only take place after this year’s harvest period.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, he said, “We will assess the situation at harvest time. I’m not sure if the amounts referred to are for this year’s harvest season or last year. If it’s harvest season this year, then they haven’t harvested yet. The northern sector has only one planting season. As far as I know, this is when the planted seeds start to grow.
“At this time, some farms are harvesting, so we will have to wait until the end of the harvest period before we can assess whether the production, compared to last year, is the same, decreased or increased.”
His comment followed comments made by General Union of Agricultural Workers (GAWU) General Secretary Edward Kareweh, who said he had seen a reduction in rice production.
Mr. Kareweh blamed the reduction on lack of fertilizer.
“The point is, if you don’t have fertilizer and go ahead and have a large acre, it means that once you don’t apply fertilizer production will be low, however your cost will remain.” the same. “he told host Evans Mensah on Wednesday.
Speaking on this, Frimpong noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, fertilizer manufacturers were unable to meet demand, hence the shortage.
“Each country has opted for the little that has been produced. In our case where the fertilizer suppliers give to the farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture as part of the plantation for food and employment, then they collect their money later, without the money in hand and without prices in the world market go up, so tuition fees have gone up. a lot, we all agree that we have these challenges, ”he said.
Aside from that, the Deputy Minister said that while the weather conditions at the start of the year were unreliable, the situation has changed.
Thus, giving the hope of a large production by the farmers during the harvest period. Mr. Frimpong added that the currently high food prices will also be controlled.
“During the second half of the year the rainfall regime was good. I have no doubts that the farmers will get good harvests. It may not be at the level of last year or the last two years, but they are going to get good harvests because the weather has been good.
“For this reason, I am very confident that overall we will have a good harvest and that the prices that are so high (will go down). The forces of supply and demand will determine prices, ”he concluded.
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