Accra, Ghana – 7th July 2025
As part of its oversight mandate, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs has paid a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA). The visit was led by the Committee Chair, Hon. Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Member of Parliament for Wa East Constituency. The familiarization visit forms part of broader efforts to enhance policy formulation, accountability, and collaboration within the agricultural sector.

Dr. Jasaw noted that the purpose of the visit was to provide Members of the Committee with first-hand insight into the Ministry’s operations, structure, and strategic initiatives. He emphasized the Committee’s commitment to fostering productive dialogue, monitoring progress, and ensuring effective legislative support for the agricultural sector.

The delegation was warmly received by the Hon. Minister for Food and Agriculture Hon. Eric Opoku (MP), who used the occasion to present an overview of the Ministry’s current programs—princpal among them, the government’s flagship FEED GHANA Programme.

Overview of the Feed Ghana Programme

The Feed Ghana Programme is designed to transform the agricultural landscape through broad-based participation, with the goal of achieving food security, reducing imports, enhancing exports, improving nutrition, and creating jobs and wealth through the vehicle of Cooperatives System or Farmer Based Organsations (FBOs) . Key components of the programme include:

1. Crop Development

• Focus on cereals, legumes, starchy staples, and vegetables.
• Strategies include increased access to irrigation, improved agro-inputs, investment in land development, greenhouse, backyard farming, and improved market linkages.

2. Livestock Development

• Targeted support for poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs.
• Interventions include provision of vaccines, improved breeds, feed support, and equipment such as battery cages.

3. Farmer Service Centers

• Nationwide rollout of Farmer Service Centers to provide inputs, extension services, market linkage, aggregation, warehousing, and in-kind credit systems.
• Procurement processes for these centers are currently underway.

4. Farmers Bank

• Agricultural banking services established in production zones to facilitate access to land, mechanization services, irrigation, and reliable market access, especially for youth and women.

5. Institutional Farming

• Collaboration with public and private institutions including the Security Services, Religious Bodies, and Youth Employment Agencies to promote large-scale farming.

6. Feed the Industry

• Support for the tree crop sector with improved planting materials, enhanced processing capacity, and access to credit to increase supply of raw materials to local industries.

7. Infrastructure and Agro-Production Enclaves

• Development of large, contiguous arable land (approx. 300 hectares each) with facilities including warehouses, silos, feeder roads, and processing units.

8. Irrigation for Wealth Creation

• Commitment to year-round farming through irrigation.
• Planned construction of 10 new small dams and rehabilitation of 8 existing ones in the Northern Regions.
• Installation of 250 solar-powered boreholes targeted at women and youth farmers.
• Supported by a €47 million funding package from the African Development Bank, European Union, and French Embassy.

9. Innovative Agriculture Financing

• Integrated financing strategy including concessional lending via EXIM Bank, commercial bank participation, warehouse receipt systems (GCX), and agricultural insurance.

10. Institutional Development and Regulatory Framework

• Capacity development for MoFA personnel, operational logistics enhancement, infrastructure improvements, and enforcement of agricultural regulations.

International Support

• KOICA has granted $9.5 million to support vegetable production in Winneba and Adaklu.
• FAO is rehabilitating the national Soil Laboratory located in Kumasi, expected to meet global standards and become operational in 8 months.

Promoting Agricultural Culture

The Minister urged the Committee to help rally the nation around agriculture. Educational institutions are being encouraged to run school farms, and faith-based organizations are being called upon to support agricultural ventures. Public sector institutions, including the Police, Military, and Prison Services, are also encouraged to engage in farming.

He further stressed the need to move beyond rain-fed agriculture towards sustainable irrigation-based farming to guarantee year-round production.

Committee Response

The Parliamentary Committee expressed its appreciation for the Ministry’s comprehensive presentation and strategic direction. Members commended the Feed Ghana Programme and pledged their support through effective policy collaboration, budget advocacy, and strengthened institutional ties.

This visit marks a renewed spirit of partnership between the Legislature and Executive in advancing Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.