Find solutions to post-harvest losses -Dodge

Crop scientists and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector have been urged to find solutions to the annual  post- harvest losses experienced by  farmers in the country.
Statistics available indicate that Ghana currently loses GH¢700,000 every year in post-harvest losses because of poor post-harvest management practices in the country.

The country also loses between 20 and 50 per cent of all vegetables, fruits, cereals, roots and tubers produced each year, while it struggles to achieve food security and eradicate hunger.

The Commercial Manager of YARA Ghana Limited, an agro- chemical company, Mr Richard Dogbe, who made the call, therefore, urged scientists and all stakeholders in the agriculture sector to double their efforts to address the situation.

Mr Dogbe was addressing about 400 farmers at Goaso in the Asunafo North municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region at a meeting attended by cocoa, food crops and vegetable farmers to seek how best to boost their production among other things, through the proper application of fertilisers.

The farmers were introduced to new crop fertilisers like foliar fertiliser (Dragel (D2) Wnnier, Dlaite 15. It was also to educate crop farmers on the use of the new fertilisers in order to improve their yield.

According to Mr Dogbe, 30 per cent of agriculture produce in Ghana went bad through improper application of fertilisers and other chemicals.

He stressed that if the problem was not addressed, food security in the country could not be attained.

Mr Dogbe, therefore, called on agricultural extension officers (AEO) to educate food crop farmers on how best to use agro-chemicals to increase production and at the same time ensure that the food stuff produced from such chemicals were safe for consumption.

He stated that agro chemicals had the potential of increasing agriculture production and also have the side effects.

Some of the farmers at the forum appealed to the government to improve road infrastructure and reduce the prices of agriculture inputs.

Samuel Duodo/Daily Graphic/Ghana