info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
info.afrindex.com
China-Africa Trade Information Service
Image from Graphic Online
According to the data collected by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture of Ghana, 600,000 farmers registered so far with the government's flagship, that is called Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ).
With an initial estimated figure of 200,000 farmers expected to register with the programme when it was launched in 2017, it ended the year with a figure of 282,000 farmers participating.
Provisional figures at the ministry as of September this year pegged the number of farmers who had registered under the programme at 600,000 instead of the projected 500,000. The ministry foresees a subsequent yearly increment until it hits 1.5 million by the year 2020.
The programme, anchored on five strategic pillars, is aimed at increasing productivity of food crops, ensure food security, raw materials for industry, reduce food import and increase export.
In addition, it aims at creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and creating incentives and awareness to increase investment and attract the youth in particular into agriculture.
The roll-out of the programme in 2017 has changed the face of the agricultural sector of the country. For instance, from a growth rate of 2.8 and 3.0 per cent in 2015 and 2016 respectively, the sector shot up, courtesy of the Planting for Food and Jobs to a provisional figure of 8.4 per cent by the close of 2017. This can be attributed to the supply of improved seeds, increased fertiliser supply at a subsidised price and the intensification of the agricultural extension service.
