Add Organic Fertilizer to Subsidy Programme-Research Finding

Organic farm

 A research conducted by the Coalition for the Advancement of Organic Farming CAOF, a Non-governmental Organization NGO, has advocated the need for the government to   increase the quantity of organic fertilizer into the fertilizer subsidy programme. 

The CAOF which has a membership of 17 Non-Governmental Organizations   working closely with farmers in Ghana to promote organic farming in the country conducted the research on “the Extent to which Organic Agriculture has been considered in current Government’s Agriculture Policies and Programmes in Ghana under the Appropriate Inputs and Certification for Organic Farming Project”, in some selected Districts in the Upper East and Northern Regions.

 The research which was carried out in  some selected Districts in the Northern and Upper East Regions and  funded by the the Business Sector Advocacy Challenged BUSAC Fund , stressed  the urgent need for  Ghana as a country to  implement the African Union Declaration on Ecological Organic Agriculture. 

Among some of the District the research was conducted included the Bongo District, Bolgatanga Municipal. Nabdam District, Talensi District, Bulisa South District, Bulisa North District, Garu/Tempane District, Binduri District, Kasena Nankana East District and Navrongo Municipal in the  Upper East Region. The rest are the Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo District, Tamale Metropolis, West Maprusi District, East Maprusi District and the Gushiagu/Karaga District in the Northern Region. 

The research stressed that, the need for National Policy on Ecological Organic Agriculture is now. It is also time for Organic Desks to be established in all Regional Offices of MOFA and District Departments of Food and Agriculture Majority of the respondents in the research who alluded to the fact that those who grow and eat more organic foods look healthier and live longer and that organic agriculture promote healthy environments and less pollution. 

Organic agriculture promotes sustainable farming and healthy living in Ghana. It is relevant to the extent that mineral fertilizers are gradually degrading our soils. 

Also, organic agriculture is a tool and system for mitigating climate change”, the research pointed out. 

Whilst  also urging the government to ensure that the Planting for Food and Jobs programme cater adequately  for the needs of organic farmers, it also underscored the need   for MOFA to ensure the   proper integration of livestock and crops  to complement  for the  bi-product from animals to be used for organic fertilizer. 

The research which was made known  at  separate  sensitization forums at Walewale in the Northern region, Bolgatanga in the Upper East region and Tumu in the Upper West region to share the findings, it also stressed the  need for organic products to satisfy issues of hygiene, traceability, pesticides and other forms of contaminations. 

It cited the bureaucratic and cumbersome processes involved in certifying organic products in Ghana, inadequate knowledge on the part of farmers on the requirements for organic certification and ignorance on the part of farmers of the risk of contamination of products with insecticides and other chemicals as some of the challenges confronting organic farming. 

The research recommended the need for Private-Public Partnership in the Organic Agriculture Sector and standards certification processes of organic agriculture to be friendlier and accessible to players in the industry.

Story by: GBC's Emmanuel Akayeti