AMG offers support to farmers to boost food security amid COVID-19

Agricultural Manufacturing Group Limited (AMG), a leading indigenous producer and distributor of advanced crop nutrition performance fertilizers in Ghana, has commenced a project aimed at boosting food production in the country and to empower small- and large-scale farmers.

According to the company, the project is part of efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on food accessibility, as the virus continues to disrupt domestic food supply chains and other shocks affecting food production.

The project is a unique farmer-centred agric concept to enable farmers increase their yields and change their livelihoods to ensure food security and sustainable development through the production of quality headline input like Cocoa Nti- a 100% cocoa fertilizer.

In an interview, Managing Director of AMG Limited, Mr. Ernest Akwesi Appiah stated that, “the company finds satisfaction in providing small- and large-scale farmers with a crop nutrition product strategy that guarantees high yields, through the adaptation of cost-effective crop nutrition combinations.

He also stated that, “labour shortages due to morbidity, movement restrictions and social distancing rules are impacting producers, processors, traders and trucking/logistics companies in food supply chains – particularly for food products that require workers to be in close proximity. Ensuring farmers have access to inputs and labour for the next planting season is a common area of concern across the country.”

Mr. Appiah further noted that aside this, AMG is also set to attract and involve more youth in the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture through a partnership with the Ministry.

“By this partnership, AMG will be working directly with the Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme, to provide inputs (seeds, fertilizers), to youth farmer groups and associations across selected agrarian regions for production. We will also provide requisite and adequate technical support to the youth, extension officers and farmers, under the program,” he said.

He also said that through this approach, the production of fertilizers and other allied input will be made affordable to every farmer.

Mr. Appiah also said the company is committed to the industry’s growth as it has an agenda for innovation.

“The company actively supports industry initiatives that seek to place farmers on a better footing. Notably, the firm has made a commitment to support Agri-house Foundation rollout a national subsistence farming enterprise, 1household, 1 garden initiative, designed to ensure a liberal supply of quality food to Ghanaians, while waiting for the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic to abate.”

Specifically, the firm has offered a piece of land and other agro input to help the project thrive.

Plans for Continued Impact

In a bid to consolidate its grip on the local agric sector, AMG plans to create more specialized plant- nutrition solutions for farmers. This approach, along with the firm’s in-depth industry know-how will help ensure the continued growth of the entire value chain.

AMG has ploughed significant resources into the creation of ten (10) warehouses across the country to enhance storage of products thereby guarantying seamless supply of its products to farmers. The firm also plans to significantly improve and provide transportation system that helps cart agricultural inputs across the country for easy accessibility.

Similarly, the firm hopes to push the boundaries of effectual crop nutrition through the construction of its state-of-the-art Plant Prescription Unit, which supports the production of tailor-made fertilizers to meet the specific crop needs.