The escalating costs of farm inputs are pushing young farmers in Dornye, a farming community in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region, towards a dangerous alternative of illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, Info Radio Reports.
The report described the situation as an alarming trend, threatening the livelihoods of local farmers and also exacerbating environmental degradation and undermining regional development efforts.
Farmers in Dornye, say the prohibitively high prices of fertiliser and other agricultural inputs have severely hampered their ability to cultivate effectively. Over the years, declining soil fertility combined with rising input costs has resulted in diminished harvests, leaving many farmers economically vulnerable and desperate for solutions.
The report adds that the local farmers are appealing to the government for urgent intervention, emphasising the need for subsidised fertilisers and the construction of irrigation infrastructure such as dams to enable sustainable, year-round farming. “The high cost of fertiliser has discouraged many of us from farming,” lamented Mr Kyoo-uum Inusah. “We need affordable inputs and reliable water sources to keep our farms productive.”
Farmers also expressed frustration over the perceived neglect of existing agricultural support programs. Madam Suong Konere, a female farmer in Dornye, criticised the lack of targeted assistance for women farmers, highlighting gender disparities in access to resources and aid.
The community’s plea underscores a critical juncture; without immediate government action, young people may continue to abandon agriculture in favour of illegal mining, with devastating consequences for the environment and local economies. As Dornye awaits concrete measures from the central government, their call for renewed commitment to rural development and food security resonates across the region, emphasising the urgent need for sustainable solutions to support farmers and safeguard their livelihoods.
