Buluk, Ghana – Farmers in Builsa North and South Districts are caught in a difficult economic paradox.

While the new government’s efforts have brought a welcome reduction in inflation and a more stable cedi, leading to lower consumer prices for staple crops, this “good news” for the nation’s households has created a crisis for its farmers.

The core of their struggle: a dramatic disconnect between falling prices for their produce and stubbornly high costs for essential farm inputs.

A team from Voice of Buluk spoke with several local farmers, and the sentiment was unanimous: “We are suffering.” The farmers explained that while a bag of maize that once sold for around GHc700 now fetches only GHc450, the price of a 50kg bag of urea fertilizer remains at a staggering GHc580. A bag of NPK fertilizer is similarly high at GHc500. This disparity means that a farmer must now sell two bags of maize just to buy a single bag of urea—a devastating trade-off that makes it nearly impossible to cultivate their farms effectively.

This situation is not unique to Buluk. Across Ghana, the agricultural sector is facing significant headwinds. Recent reports from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and economic analysts confirm that while the country is making strides in macroeconomic stabilization, the benefits have yet to trickle down to many smallholder farmers.

The high cost of farming inputs, particularly imported fertilizers, is a persistent problem that has long been a source of food price volatility and a drain on farmers’ incomes.

Government Initiatives and a Call for Action

The farmers of Buluk acknowledge the government’s work to stabilize the economy. However, they are making a direct appeal for targeted intervention to protect their livelihoods. “We are happy the government is doing everything possible to stabilize the economy and that is good,” one farmer stated. “But we are also pleading with the government to subsidize prices of fertilizers to enable us buy for our farms.”

This plea comes at a time when the government is already taking steps to support agriculture. For instance, the Development Bank Ghana (DBG) has committed GH¢500 million to boost the agricultural sector in 2025, and the government is reintroducing a free cocoa fertilizer program for cocoa farmers.

While these are positive developments, farmers of other crucial food crops like maize and beans are in urgent need of similar support. The farmers of Buluk are hoping their plea will prompt a broader fertilizer subsidy program that extends beyond the cocoa sector.

The reality for these farmers is that without access to affordable fertilizers, their crop yields will suffer, potentially leading to future food shortages and higher prices down the line. The current situation, where a bag of beans that once sold for over GHc3,000 has drastically fallen, further illustrates the urgency of their request.

The Bigger Picture: Sustainable Farming and Food Security

The Voice of Buluk team’s findings highlight a critical link between the government’s economic policies and the daily struggles of its food producers.

The farmers’ request for subsidized fertilizers is not just about their personal welfare; it’s a call to secure the nation’s food supply and ensure the long-term sustainability of agriculture in Ghana. Investing in farmers is a direct investment in the country’s food security and economic resilience.