Smallholder farmers in the Northern Region of Ghana have been trained to adopt the use of appropriate fertilizer protocols and applications mainly in the production of maize and other cereals for increased and better-quality output.

The farmers had their skills polished on application of the fertilizer – YaraMilaActyva, introduced by Yara Ghana, a leading fertilizer supplier in partnership with USAID funded Agricultural Development and Value Chain Enhancement (ADVANCE).

The farmers were also taken through some training process on best agronomic techniques, good agricultural practices, harvest and post-harvest handling to ensure proper application of quality fertilizer to increase food security
According to Yara Ghana in a statement to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday the farmers lauded the training programme saying it enlightened them on the purchase of right fertilizer which would improve crop quality and boost yields.

Yara Ghana has so far supported the establishment of 130 crop demonstrations farms - 100 maize and 30 rain-fed rice demos - with premium Yara fertilizers in collaboration with the USAID/ADVANCE Project in Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions during the 2015 production season.

This came to light when officials of Yara and the USAID/ ADVANCE paid a visit to the various demonstration fields of their beneficiaries to find out the progress of the farms after the training and the application of the Yara fertilizer products, the statement said.

It was also to ensure that the farmers comply with the right method of application without mixing any chemical to the fertilizer in order to derive the needed yields from harvest, it added.

It said 13,000 farmers from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions have benefitted from series of training on good agricultural practices geared towards shoring up crop production.

A visit to some crop demonstration farms at Ticheli, Surugu and Tibung, saw farmers applying the second phase of the fertilizer to the crops with excitement because the new technology has come to help boost production.

The statement quoted Mr Adamu Abdul-Rahman, a farmer, as saying that the farmers used to apply other fertilizers that did not guarantee maximum yield which discouraged most farmers from cultivating the following year.

He appealed to other farmers to adopt the new technology to generate the needed yields to improve their livelihoods.

He also commended Yara and USAID/ADVANCE for the support adding that without their assistance, farmers in the Ticheli community would not have known that there were such quality fertilizers that could help increase yields.

Madam Tuohatu Abubakari, also a farmer and member of Tutinyam Women Association noted that, lack of funds compelled the Association to buy poor quality fertilizers which affected their production.

She stated that the intervention of Yara and USAID/ADVANCE has taught them the need to acquire quality fertilizer to apply on their farms as well as avoid broadcasting method that also affected productivity.

She thanked the organizations for their assistance to ensure farmers get the needed yields through the introduction of the new technology.

Cereals Crop Segment Manager, Yara Ghana, Mr Mahama Abdul-Rahman, said the company seeks to improve the livelihoods and the profitability of the farmers with the introduction of YaraMila Actyva fertilizer.

The project, he said, also seeks to introduce the farmers to improved ways of farming to ensure the sustainability of agribusiness which is their only source of livelihoods.

According to the Manager, Yara was focused on providing the right crop nutrition solution for farmers in order to sustain their business and create a win-win situation.

Access to fertilizer is one of the challenges of the farmers of which efforts are being made to ensure that agents are established at the farming communities to enable the farmers access them at affordable prices to meet the competitive market.

Mr Francis Essuman, Northern Regional Coordinator of USAID/ADVANCE is also quoted as saying that the project was helping to identify nucleus farmers and give them relevant training as well as offer technical and mechanized services to out-growers.

He said the project links the farmers to agro-input dealers as well as other value chain actors to acquire knowledge, counseling and as well as other services.