UWR: Best farmer predicts bumper harvest in 2025 despite late Rains

The 2024 Upper West Regional Best Farmer, Alhaji Nankpa Jibiliru, is optimistic about a successful farming season this year, despite an initial delay in rains that disrupted early planting schedules across the region.

Speaking to Info Radio, the Manager of Augustine Farms noted that although the 2025 rains started late and fell irregularly, farmers have managed to plant their crops, with expectations of an abundant harvest.

“There is a vast difference between last year and this year,” he said.

“Last year, we struggled with drought, but this year, Alhamdulillah, we have rain even though it came late and sometimes took a week between showers.”

The late start, he explained, caused a shortage of tractors for ploughing, forcing many farmers to plant as late as August. Despite the setback, Mr. Jibiliru believes this year will yield a plentiful harvest.

“I can assure you there’s going to be an abundance of food in the whole country, to the point we may not even know what to do with it,” he said confidently.

However, the award-winning farmer cautioned that the anticipated bumper harvest, particularly of maize, could lead to a sharp drop in prices. Many farmers still have unsold maize from last year’s harvest, and with this year’s expected surplus, he predicts prices could fall as low as GH¢200–GH¢300 per bag — far below the GH¢600 per bag he managed to sell his stock for last season.

“Without government support or proper storage facilities, we risk producing so much that some will go to waste,” he warned, adding that although fertilizer is now abundant, the lack of market access remains a major challenge.

Despite these concerns, Mr Jibiliru says farmers in the Upper West Region are determined to make the most of the season, trusting that “it now depends on Allah to give us the rain at the right time.”