High electricity tariff is killing our livelihood – Tuba irrigation farmers

Irrigation farmers in the Tuba, a community in the Ga South District, have appealed to the government to introduce a policy aimed at subsidizing electricity tariff for farmers, especially, those in the irrigation business.

According to them, the recent hikes in electricity tariff are negatively affecting their business, believing that if measures are not introduced by the government to arrest the situation, they will have no option than to fold up.

“Despite the challenge we face as farmers on high input cost, our recent apprehension is on account of the recent increase on electricity charges which is threatening the survival of the Irrigation Scheme in Tuba”, the farmers numbering 203 noted in a petition, a copy of which was presented to the Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho recently.

Timothy Quaye Huago, Secretary of the Weija Irrigation Water Users Association told Kasapafmonline.com in an interview that ever since electricity tariff shot up, charges on their two pumping stations have increased astronomically, and in some cases, by seven folds.

For example, they said in November 2015, electricity charges for pump one was GH?1,176.00 while that of pump two recorded GH?3,591.

However, in December 2016, charges for pump one shot up to GH?3,307.00 while that of pump two recorded GH?20,354.00.

In January 2016, charges for pump one reached GH?10,216.00 with pump two recording GH?25,443.

The farmers contend that the situation may not be peculiar to those in Tuba alone but a national issue which must be addressed with the urgency that it deserves.

To them, the current levels of electricity tariff are not sustainable for farming purposes.