The CropLife Ghana, an association of importers and distributors of pesticides, fertilizers and other agriculture inputs in Ghana has called on the Ministry of Finance to as a matter of urgency, grant the tax exemptions announced in the 2024 budget statement and economic policy of government for the importation of agriculture machinery and other inputs such pesticides.
The group observes that the high cost of inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers coupled with the escalating cost of agricultural services is making farming unattractive and unprofitable leading to low supply of food in Ghana.
The situation they said is worsened by the high reference point values charged by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at the ports on pesticides and this further exacerbates the cost of clearing these pesticides.
The Custodian Online has learned that there are several importers who are unwilling to make any shipment to the country due to this development and farmers are already experiencing shortages in one way or the other which could adversely impact on this year’s crop season and ultimately affecting the country’s food security initiatives.
As a result, members of the CropLife Ghana and other service providers have their agrochemicals locked up at the ports due to the exorbitant charges slapped on them by way of import duty.
Mr. Kadiri Rashad, the Programs Manager at CropLife Ghana in a statement copied to THE CUSTODIAN said some their members have gone ahead to clear their stocks at very high cost to include demurrages.
He noted this will further push the cost of inputs above the weight of an ordinary farmer
He pointed out that the success or otherwise of the flagship Planting for Food and Jobs is largely dependent on the availability of quality agriculture inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, seeds and machinery at affordable prices to farmers.
“In recognizing this, the 2024 national budget categorically captured Governments priority to grant tax exemptions on the importation of agriculture machinery and other inputs to promote and safeguard food security in Ghana” he added.
“While we await the finance ministry to implement the tax exemptions through the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), members of CropLife Ghana and other service providers have their pesticides and fertilizers locked up in the ports due to exorbitant charges slapped on them by way of import duty” he lamented.
