Background
Over the last six years (2017-2022), the Government of Ghana (GoG) has implemented the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) as a flagship programme aimed at accelerating agricultural modernisation and growth. The programme has focused on using subsidies to
promote the use of improved seeds and fertilisers to increase crop yields. The PFJ programme has achieved significant milestones, including an increased agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate, increased crop yields and production levels of major
staples.
Despite these achievements, this programme has had some limitations, such as placing high-level budgetary strain on the government, the limited adoption of the value chain approach, limited access to agricultural credit, the low prioritisation of national strategic stock and limited focus on the needs of medium-scale and large-scale commercial farmers
PFJ 2.0
The PFJ 2.0 programme is a shift from direct input subsidy to a smart agricultural input credit system (ICS) linked to structured market arrangements. This approach would eliminate barriers to credit access, increase productivity and production levels through enhancing use of improved inputs, stabilise food prices, promote commercial agriculture and ultimately improve food security, resilience and exports. The programme will be implemented over a period of five years and will adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to increase the availability and access to improved inputs, mechanisation and extension services as well as output markets.
The programme is anchored on four main principles: (i) value chain approach, (ii) a private sector focus, (iii) market driven, and (iv) inclusivity. Under the PFJ 2.0 programme, the following eleven commodities have been prioritised for promotion and development.