Yara Ghana Limited (YGL), in collaboration with John Deere International, has held a demonstration workshop in Accra to sensitise farmers on the importance of effective crop nutrition and appropriate mechanisms on farms.

The demonstration workshop was carried out to show farmers the result of effective crop nutrition and technology in farming practices carried out with YaraMila Actyva Fertilizer and appropriate mechanisation tools from John Deere.

The demonstration also educated commercial and peasant farmers on appropriate use and application of fertilizers; using technology and mechanisation in crop production; the effective use of soil and leaf analysis to determine crop and soil deficiencies; and irrigation technologies.

Mr Kwame Okyere, Head of Marketing, YGL said the partnership with John Deere to organise the workshop because they saw the good works of the organisation in improving the agricultural sector.

Mr Okyere said Yara would continue to engage authorities and key stakeholders in trials and demonstrations to drum home the importance of best farm practices.

Mr Derrick Tuffuor, Technical Manager of YGL, advised the farmers to do away with the practice of applying one fertilizer for all crops and give a crop the exact amount it needs to grow well and healthily.

He noted that the organisation had set up the Yara Crop nutrition programme where they collaborate with the crop research institute to conduct an annual nationwide education on best farming practices for farmers in the country.

Mr Cobus Du Toit, Director General of John Deere, West Africa said many farmers still resort to the old ways of farming that leads to low productivity and the organisation is concerned with supporting farmers to make adequate production through financing and education.

Mr Du Toit said the company sells both major and minor farming equipment because they want to provide mechanisation solution to all farmers in the country.

He also noted that as part of the John Deere’s support for farmers, they have partnered with Sinapi Aba Savings and Loans Limited to pay part of the interest put on loans for farmers to have the ability to pay back.

Yara Ghana Limited is a fertilizer supplier organisation which has branches in 150 countries worldwide including Ghana, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

The Head Office of the organisation is in Norway, hence the Norwegian name, “Yara” meaning “Good harvest” and their objective is to promote good harvest and knowledge when it comes to Agricultural practice.

John Deere International is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural, construction, and forestry machinery, diesel engines, drive trains used in heavy equipment, and lawn care equipment.