Pastor Tesfaye Gabiso message for followers

Pastor Tesfaye Gabiso message for followers.

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???? “We were forced to pay 8,400 birr for fertilizer that we used to buy at 3,600 birr this year” - Farmers

➡️ “Fertilizer prices have increased due to economic reforms” - Sidama Regional Agriculture Bureau

Farmers in Sidama Regional State told Tikvah Ethiopia that they are having difficulty buying fertilizer and high-quality maize seeds because they are being offered at high prices.

What are the details of the complainants?

“The price of a quintal of fertilizer (DAP) used to be 3,600 birr. But this year it has gone up to 8,400. The price of a plot of high-quality maize, which used to be 1,800 birr, has gone up to 4,600 birr this year. This is only for maize.

When we buy maize, there are also mandatory expenses that the district charges us: 1,500 birr for the construction of a welfare house, 1,000 birr for the stamp, up to 3,000 birr for taxes, 300 birr for the welfare party contribution, and 200 birr for the Red Cross.

In general, a farmer has been forced to spend more than 10,000 birr for a plot of high-quality maize. 

Therefore, the farmers of Shamena, which is known for producing maize extensively, are having difficulty producing maize this year,” he said.

Tikvah Ethiopia has asked the Sidama Regional Agriculture Bureau to respond to the farmers' complaints.

What did the head of the bureau, Ato Memru Moke, respond to?

“The price of fertilizer has increased in connection with the economic reform. We have not increased anything, only the transportation. Therefore, there is no price; the price we have announced.

It is the same as others, except that distribution has not started. We have formally announced it in a letter, not because they are entering earlier. It is national.

In Amna, it was about 4,000. Now it goes from 7,500 - 8,000 birr, including transportation.

Yes, corn is the same. It increases production cost periodically. It does not increase where it is.

So, for example, the price of a tractor increases every year, considering the price of fuel. Unless it is with someone else, it is officially seen with us and the price is set as a country and we provide it there, so there is no problem.

For example, the fuel, labor, etc. for tractor farming are not the same as before. It will not be the same this year. For that reason, there are some increases.

Fertilizer from abroad "We cannot estimate it because it is coming. The government has subsidized it. According to the government, the price of one quintal of fertilizer is 12 thousand birr before the subsidy. 

It has been reduced by the subsidy and it has come down to that. 4,000 is the subsidy for one quintal," they told Tikvah Ethiopia. 

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