Good afternoon,
Members of the Press,
Hon. Deputy Minister, MoFA,
Chief Director, MoFA,
Directors, MoFA,
Distinguished Guests and Fellow Ghanaians
Today marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to strengthening Ghana's agricultural sector, a sector that is crucial not only for ensuring food security and economic stability but also for advancing our national development goals. The launch of the Feed Ghana Programme is a significant step towards transforming our agricultural landscape and securing a prosperous future for our farmers, our communities, and our nation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is worth noting that H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana will Officially Launch this Flagship Programme on the 11th April, 2025 in the Bono East Region, Techiman.
Ghana's agricultural sector is grappling with daunting challenges that jeopardize food security, economic stability, and overall national progress. The country's heavy reliance on food imports, which totals over $2 billion per year, with poultry alone accounting for $300 million, places Ghana at risk of external market fluctuations and currency instability. This dependency exacerbates food inflation, significantly affecting households and aggravating economic hardships for the most vulnerable populations.
Although blessed with abundant agricultural resources, Ghana has struggled with production inefficiencies, lack of infrastructure, limited access to essential inputs, and weak integration within the agricultural value chain. The smallholder farmers, who represent the backbone of the agricultural workforce, encounter formidable obstacles such as barriers to mechanization, difficulty in securing financing, and the absence of modern farming methods. These challenges hinder their ability to scale operations and meet the increasing market demands. Additionally, substantial post-harvest losses persist due to insufficient storage and processing facilities, poor transportation networks, and inefficient market connections.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
In response to these pressing issues, the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), has launched the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA). This initiative aims to drive the growth and modernization of the agricultural sector, with goals to bolster agribusiness development, secure food availability, mitigate food inflation, increase export revenues, and generate sustainable job opportunities.
To effectively realize this vision, MoFA is about to roll out the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) as its flagship programme, a comprehensive program designed to implement all elements of the AETA. The Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) is an integrated agricultural acceleration programme to boost agricultural production to feed Ghanaians and provide raw material for agro-industry and create jobs. These efforts are intended to ultimately ensure food security, alleviate inflationary pressures on food prices, increase export potential, and support sustained economic growth in the long term.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
The primary goal of the Feed Ghana Programme is straightforward: to transform Ghana's agricultural sector, reduce our import dependency, and boost both domestic production and exports. We aim to ensure food security and improve nutritional outcomes while creating sustainable employment and empowering our youth and women.
Key Initiatives Under the Feed Ghana Programme:
1. Advancement of SMART Agriculture
- Launch Farmers' Service Centres across the country to deliver essential support services, including training, technical guidance, and market access.
- Establish Farm Banks within agricultural zones to facilitate land access and irrigation services, primarily aimed at young entrepreneurs and farmers.
2. Grains and Legumes Development Initiative
- Promote vital grains and legumes such as maize, rice, sorghum, and soyabean for consumption, agro-industry, and export opportunities. This includes enhancing access to high-quality inputs like seeds, fertilizers, agrochemicals, as well as storage and processing infrastructures.
3. Vegetable Development Project (YƐREDUA)
- Implement controlled environment farming through greenhouses to enhance the production of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other vegetables.
- Create sustainable, ready-to-cultivate spaces equipped with irrigation systems for open-field cultivation.
- Offer technical assistance to urban and peri-urban vegetable farmers and advocate for home, school, and community gardening programs.
4. Support for Institutional Farming
- Provide assistance for institutional commercial farming initiatives, including the National Service Authority, which will engage 5,000 Agricultural and Veterinary graduates this year alongside existing farming support, as well as the National Youth Employment Agency, the Prisons Service, Senior High Schools, and religious institutions.
5. Poultry Industry Revitalization
- A ‘Poultry Farm to Table’ Project to increase poultry production in partnership with Poultry Farmers Associations.
- Incentivize household poultry production, domestic consumption and interest through the Nkoko Nketenkete
6. Livestock Development Initiative
- Aim to boost the production of meat and dairy, particularly from cattle, pigs, and small ruminants, to strengthen the national livestock sector.
7. Feed the Industry Programme
- Increase the production of local raw materials for animal feed manufacturing to guarantee a steady supply of agricultural products for industrial use.
Oil Palm Industry Development
- Formulate a national palm oil industry policy that offers incentives for palm oil production and value chain development to address the country’s consumption deficit.
- Develop commercial palm plantations throughout the nation and promote out-grower schemes to position Ghana prominently in the global palm oil market.
Other Industrial Crop Initiatives
- Foster the cultivation and processing of additional industrial crops such as cashew, mango, coconut, shea, and rubber through agro-industrial zones.
8. Investment in Infrastructure and Agro-Production Enclaves
- Create agro-production enclaves equipped with essential infrastructure, including irrigation systems, access roads, and warehousing facilities, to boost agricultural productivity and enhance market access.
9. Innovative Agricultural Financing
- Focus the Exim Bank to offer concessional financing for farmers and agricultural enterprises through cooperatives and community banks, particularly for export and value-added agricultural projects.
- Resource the Ghana Incentive-based Risk Sharing Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) scheme to reduce lending risks and provide insurance coverage.
Members of the Press,
As we embark on this journey, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will lead the implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme in collaboration with other ministries such as Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Finance, Local Governments, Parliament, Local Government Services, other departments and agencies, Farmer Organizations and Private Enterprises.
The Ministry will establish a National Oversight Committee to provide strategic direction and a Technical Implementation Committee to offer essential technical support. These bodies will work in tandem to ensure the smooth execution of the programme.
The Ministry will engage in consultations with key stakeholders, develop detailed programme documentation, and launch the Feed Ghana Programme, establishing the necessary structures for effective implementation.
Together, we will forge a new path for Ghana’s agriculture. A path that enhances food security, revitalizes our economy, and empowers our farmers. It is time to turn our rich agricultural potential into a reality.
I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in supporting this initiative, as we work collectively towards a prosperous and food-secure Ghana.
Thank you.