Regional News of Thursday, 2 December 2010

Source: GNA

Shortage of chemical fertilizer hits New Juaben

Koforidua, Dec. 2, GNA - The New Juaben Municipality has been hit by an acute shortage of chemical fertilizer, especially Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus (NPK) compound and ammonia sulphate. Due to the shortage, some agro-chemical shops have started re-bagging the few bags of fertilizers left into a kilogramme and half a kilogramme bags and selling at exorbitant prizes. Farmers engaged in the production of vegetables, who need the fertilizer to boost their productivity, are roaming the market looking for the product to buy. Most of the owners of the Agro-chemical shops, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, claimed that they are not getting supplies from the companies, who import the product into the country. Commenting on the situation, Mr Gabriel Adokpo, New Juaben Municipal Director of Agriculture, expressed worry at the situation and promised to investigate the reason for the shortage for the appropriate measures to be taken. Mr Henry Otu of Yara Company Limited, importers of fertilizer and other agro-chemicals, said the company had stocks in their warehouses in Accra and would make efforts to get their distributors in Koforidua expedite the delivery of fertiliser to the area. 02 Dec. 10