Hain,(U/W), July 10, GNA - The Rural Action Alliance Program (RAAP) a non-governmental organization is assisting more than 10,000 farmers in the Jirapa District with fertilizer at subsidized rates. The assistance dubbed RAAP Farm Inputs Project is being carried out in collaboration with 18th April Agro Chemical Company Limited, dealer in all kinds of farm inputs.

Mr Salia Issaque Dakurah, Grant Manager of RAAP who distributed the first batch of 900 bags of fertilizer to some of the farmers at Hain on Friday, said RAAP was committed to reducing rural poverty through agricultural enhancement.

He said last year RAAP distributed over 8,466 bags of fertilizer to farmers and was committed to doubling the figure this year. He said much as the government was doing its best in subsidizing farming inputs, the experience of RAAP over the years was that access to farm inputs particularly fertilizer still remained a bigger challenge to farmers in deprived communities. Mr Dakurah said the assistance also include delivering the fertilizer at the door steps of the farmers at the right time. Mr Osman Husein Sule, Managing Director of 18th April Agro Chemical Company Limited, the supplier of the fertilizer assured RAAP and the farmer= s of regular supply of the fertilizer. Mr Godfrey B. Baiwula, the leader of the farmers thanked RAAP and 18th April Agro Chemicals for the assistance.

He said access to fertilizer was a big challenge to them not only because of the difficulty involved in getting it but also the cost involved in transporting it to their houses.