The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has donated 5,000 bags of fertilizer to the Savannah Farmers Brigade to support food production and strengthen the government’s Feed Ghana Programme.
The fertilizer was officially presented to the leadership of the Savannah Farmers Brigade on Tuesday, 4th August, 2026 in Buipe, where the Founder and Life Patron of the Brigade, His Royal Majesty Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor, expressed profound gratitude to the minister for responding swiftly to the group’s appeal for support.
Addressing the media before the presentation, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor said the Savannah Farmers Brigade has successfully mobilised more than 2,000 young women and men engaged in farming across the Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Oti, North East and Bono East regions.
He noted that the Minister had earlier pledged to partner with the brigade and fulfilled that promise by supplying the fertilizer after the association submitted a request for assistance.
“When we sent our SOS to the Minister, he quickly mobilised 5,000 bags of fertilizer for us. This support will go a long way in increasing the production of food crops, especially maize,” the traditional ruler said.
He described the donation as a significant contribution not only to the Savannah Farmers Brigade but also to the government’s Feed Ghana Programme aimed at enhancing national food security.
Buipewura also commended President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Hon. Eric Opoku as Minister for Food and Agriculture, describing him as hardworking and committed to the development of the agricultural sector.
While expressing appreciation for the fertilizer support, he appealed to the Minister to also consider assisting farmers with weedicides, noting that weeds remain one of the biggest challenges confronting farmers during the growing season.
“We have the fertilizer to nourish our crops, but weeds will also compete with them. We are appealing to the Minister to support us with weedicides so that we can maximise production,” he said.
Speaking on measures put in place to ensure the fertilizer reaches the intended beneficiaries, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor said strict monitoring systems have been established to prevent diversion or resale.
He disclosed that only registered members of the Savannah Farmers Brigade will receive the fertiliser upon presenting their membership cards.
According to him, beneficiaries will pay GH¢50 per bag, representing transportation and handling costs from Tema to the various distribution centres.
“We have put monitoring mechanisms in place, and anyone collecting fertilizer must present a valid membership card. The number of bags issued to each member will be recorded and verified. This is to ensure the fertiliser is used by genuine farmers and not diverted for sale,” he explained.
He further warned that the association would closely monitor the use of the fertilizer, stressing that the productivity of beneficiarie’s farms would serve as evidence that the inputs were put to proper use.
On the official inauguration of the Savannah Farmers Brigade, Buipewura Abdulai Jinapor announced that the event has been rescheduled from the current farming season to November 2026.
He explained that the decision was taken by the board to avoid disruptions caused by the rainy season and the traditional Damba festivals, which take place across many communities between August and September.
“The inauguration will be a major event, so we decided to move it to November when the rains and festival activities would have ended. That will allow us to organise a successful programme,” he stated.
The Savannah Farmers Brigade expects the fertiliser donation to significantly improve yields this farming season and contribute to increased food production across northern Ghana.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
