{"id":105521,"date":"2025-12-05T15:22:07","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:22:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=105521"},"modified":"2025-12-05T15:22:07","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T15:22:07","slug":"wa-west-agric-director-calls-for-stronger-govt-support-after-difficult-farming-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=105521","title":{"rendered":"Wa West Agric Director calls for stronger gov\u2019t support after difficult farming year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>1 Minute, 57 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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The Wa West District Director of Food and Agriculture, Rashid Ibrahim, is appealing to the government to boost support for farmers after a difficult production year characterised by erratic rainfall, high input costs, and weak market prices.<\/p>\n

Speaking to JoyNews\u2019 Rafiq Salam, he outlined the major setbacks that affected yields across the district.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe challenges farmers face, first and foremost, are rainfall. Unfortunately, the district experienced erratic rainfall. The distribution was no good, and also the issue of high cost of farming inputs like fertiliser, improved seeds, and others,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

He added that many farmers struggled to secure the essential inputs needed for production.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe farmers also complained about the high cost. Some of them could not access them. And largely, they are also complaining about the lack of market.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to him, even those who managed to harvest are not making enough to stay afloat.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany of them are saying that the produce has a very low market this time. So if they sell all their produce, they will even be struggling to break even, let alone make a profit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Ibrahim is urging the government to introduce stronger subsidies in the next farming season.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, going ahead, what I will advise is that the government should try and then, in 2026, heavily subsidise farming inputs for our farmers to be able to do good farming and feed the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Addressing claims of a maize glut, he said the situation is overstated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that much of a glut. The complaints we have are just a few, not that high. But we have complaints, yes. But it\u2019s not as serious as when you just describe it as a glut.<\/p>\n