A research conducted into the coupon system of distribution of fertilizer to peasant farmers has found that the intervention which was introduced in 2008 has resulted in improved yields and income for small-scale farmers. The research conducted by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) quotes the farmers as saying that the yield levels for the rice farmers increased from an average of 15 bags (85/bg) per acre of paddy rice over the period 2004-2007 to between 18 and 24 bags per acre in 2008. For the maize farmers, yields increased by an average of 3 to 9 bags (100kg/bag) per acre of maize as result of the subsidy. At Ashaiman for example, figures provided by the Irrigation Development Authority indicated that before the introduction of the subsidy, yield per hectare was 4 tons for rice and 5.2 tons for maize. With the subsidy yield per hectare increased to 6.3 tons for rice and 6.5 tons for maize. Data from the Northern Region indicates that the number of farmers using fertilizer increased from 28,000 in 2006 to 30,000 in 2007 but jumped to 88,591 in 2008. According to the report, the success of the project was attributed to the the fact that the fertilizer went to the right places at the right time. This intervention and the success stories emanating from farmers is an indication that with the necessary support, our farmers can produce enough food for consumption and for sale to take care of their families. The success story notwithstanding, hindrances like late arrival of the coupons, inadequate accessibility to coupons and fertilizers, delays in effecting refunds to agents, distributors and companies, and refusal of some agents to accept the coupons need to be addressed to keep agricultural productivity on track. There are good reasons why the government must continue this programme of providing subsidies on fertilizers and other farming implements to our farmers. The overbearing reason is that we need to, at least, be able to control our food sovereignty by producing what we eat. This way, the economy will not be reeling under the pressure of getting more dollars to import virtually everything. With this success story of supporting our farmers to show, the government should take a bold step of engaging our development partners to have a change of mind. If they won't change their minds, we better ignore them and pursue our sovereign interests of equipping the productive sectors of our economy. Perhaps, this is the time for the government to take a serious look at the suggestion by the farmers that an Agricultural Credit and Competitive Fund should be established to propel the sector to higher heights. Source: Public Agenda/Ghana