The Wa West District Director of Food and Agriculture, Rashid Ibrahim, is appealing to the government to boost support for farmers after a difficult production year characterised by erratic rainfall, high input costs, and weak market prices.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Rafiq Salam, he outlined the major setbacks that affected yields across the district.
“The challenges farmers face, first and foremost, are rainfall. Unfortunately, the district experienced erratic rainfall. The distribution was no good, and also the issue of high cost of farming inputs like fertiliser, improved seeds, and others,” he said.
He added that many farmers struggled to secure the essential inputs needed for production.
“The farmers also complained about the high cost. Some of them could not access them. And largely, they are also complaining about the lack of market.”
According to him, even those who managed to harvest are not making enough to stay afloat.
“Many of them are saying that the produce has a very low market this time. So if they sell all their produce, they will even be struggling to break even, let alone make a profit.”
Mr Ibrahim is urging the government to introduce stronger subsidies in the next farming season.
“So, going ahead, what I will advise is that the government should try and then, in 2026, heavily subsidise farming inputs for our farmers to be able to do good farming and feed the nation.”
Addressing claims of a maize glut, he said the situation is overstated.
“It’s not that much of a glut. The complaints we have are just a few, not that high. But we have complaints, yes. But it’s not as serious as when you just describe it as a glut.
Despite the setbacks, he commended farmers for their resilience and output.
“What is exciting is that we are happy our farmers, despite all these challenges, have been able to produce, and they are bringing food items like maize, groundnuts, and plantain. You know, plantain is not usually cultivated here, but our farmers have made the effort to produce those ones, and they are here. Some have brought very nice animals to exhibit.”
He added that the sense of achievement is shared across the district.
“I’m very excited, and the farmers are equally excited. All our workers are happy about what is going on now.”