The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has provided reassurance to Ghanaians regarding his ministry’s ability to meet the country’s food security requirements.
He made this statement during his address to farmers and financial institutions at a Presidential Breakfast Meeting on Agriculture and Agribusiness Financing in Accra.
Dr. Bryan expressed confidence in Ghana’s ability to become food-secure and resilient within the next five years.
He acknowledged the frustrating and embarrassing situation of importing onions and tomatoes from the Sahelian regions and affirmed his commitment to reversing this trend as soon as possible
“The enormity of leading the charge to transform Ghana’s agriculture through the new strategy has never been lost on me, right from the inception of my stewardship,” he added.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has expressed confidence in the untapped potential of the agriculture sector in Ghana. He believes that by fully harnessing this potential, the agriculture sector has the capacity to positively transform the country’s fortunes.
“These include abundant arable land for crop production, especially the virgin valleys suitable for rice production, good soils for the production of a variety of crops across the country, water resources for irrigation, favourable weather, and a diversity of food commodities that provide numerous avenues for job creation along the agriculture value chain, to mention a few,” he said.
The Minister, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, highlighted that the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) 2.0 initiative will be implemented on a strong foundation. He emphasized the need for effective interventions in the agriculture sector.
Dr. Bryan also pointed out that, according to statistics, Ghana consumes a total of 324,000 metric tons (MT) of poultry but is only able to produce approximately 15,000 MT.
This indicates that the country has a self-sufficiency rate of less than 5%, which is a significant shortfall.
The PFJ 2.0 initiative aims to address these challenges and improve the nation’s self-sufficiency in various agricultural products, including poultry.
“In the five-year plan of PFJ 2.0, Ghana is expected to move its self-sufficiency from 5% to 7% by the end of 2023, and to 13% in 2024, and progressively attain full self-sufficiency of 110.6% by 2028. Specific steps have been taken in this regard,” he said.
To address the poultry production deficit, Dr. Bryan Acheampong announced that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is taking immediate action.
From October to December 2023, they are supplying 4.5 million day-old chicks, vaccines, and starter-pack feed to anchor farmers and their out-growers.
This intervention is expected to result in an additional production of 13,200 metric tons (MT) of poultry meat by the end of this year, which will increase Ghana’s self-sufficiency in poultry to 7%.
In 2024, the Ministry plans to intensify support for the poultry sector by providing 18 million day-old chicks, vaccines, and starter-pack feed.
This will lead to the production of 42,600 MT of poultry meat, further raising Ghana’s self-sufficiency in poultry to 13%.
The aim is to continue on this trajectory until Ghana achieves full self-sufficiency in poultry production, addressing the current import dependency.
“Plans are also advanced to revive the poultry industry this year through the rehabilitation of 300 outgrown poultry farms across the country over the next 12 months. Each of these farms can be scaled to produce 200,000 birds within each poultry cycle of 4 months,” he said.
The “Planting for Food and Jobs” (PFJ) Campaign was inaugurated by His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in April 2017. Subsequently, two more initiatives, “Planting for Export and Rural Development” and “Rearing for Food and Jobs,” were launched in Dunkwa-On-Ofin and Wa, respectively.
The PFJ campaign comprises five modules, each designed to cater to specific agricultural needs and facilitate the transformation of Ghana’s agricultural sector. These modules include Mechanization, Greenhouse Villages, and the Food Crops module.
The PFJ policy encouraged all citizens to cultivate grain crops and vegetables in various spaces, including backyards.
Private and public institutions, such as breweries, food processors, schools, colleges, and prisons, were urged to establish their farms. The overarching goals were to ensure food self-sufficiency, export surplus produce, reduce the import bill for food, and generate employment opportunities for Ghanaians. This comprehensive approach aimed to revitalize Ghana’s agriculture and boost its contribution to the nation’s economy and well-being.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo launched Phase Two of the government’s flagship agriculture program, “Planting for Food and Jobs,” on August 28, 2023, at the University for Development Studies in Tamale.
This new phase aims to build upon the successes of the initial program and is designed as a five-year master plan for the transformation of agriculture in Ghana.
The key focus of this second phase is on modernization through the development of selected commodity value chains and the active involvement of the private sector.
The program seeks to enhance the agricultural sector in Ghana, boost productivity, and promote greater private sector engagement in the development of the country’s agricultural industry.