According to him, the target is to farm 8,000 acres of land by the end of 20205 across the 16 regions.

During a tour of their farm at Abotantre in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, Mr. Donkor stated that they have 20,000 acres of land, which is the biggest farm under their project in Ghana.

They have already farmed 1,000 acres of maize on the land, using scientific farming methods, rather than traditional practices.

The Deputy Operations Manager said the initiative aims to educate and train national service personnel in agriculture, reduce unemployment, and support willing farmers with land and equipment. Additionally, they plan to establish a poultry feed factory and construct a 100,000-capacity poultry house for rearing broilers.

Fuseini Donkor emphasized that the National Service Authority is poised to be a leading agency for the government’s “Feed Ghana” project.

He added that service personnel posted to project sites will not only receive their allowances but also benefit from the profits of farm produce sales as a form of motivation.

The visit was attended by the Ashanti Regional NSA Director, Emmanuel Reagan Fynn, the Sekyere Afram Plains DCE, Joseph Owusu, and some service personnel.

The initiative, known as the “Feed Ghana Programme,” seeks to boost agricultural production in order to feed Ghanaians, provide raw materials for agro-industries, and create jobs. Its broader goals include ensuring food security, alleviating poverty, and stabilising food prices.

The programme will establish farmers’ service centres, develop farm banks, promote crop cultivation, support urban farming, revitalise the poultry industry, and increase local raw material production.

These efforts are designed to generate sustainable employment while empowering young people and women.

“The primary goal of the Feed Ghana Programme is straightforward: to transform Ghana’s agriculture sector, reduce our import dependency, and boost both domestic production and export. We aim to ensure food security and improve nutritional outcomes while creating sustainable employment and empowering our youth and women,” Mr. Opoku stated.

Focus Areas

Mr. Opoku highlighted that the programme will focus on various agricultural development initiatives, including the adoption of smart farming techniques, the cultivation of key crops such as soybeans, support for urban and peri-urban vegetable farmers, and the revitalisation of the poultry sector.

A key component of the initiative is the Poultry Industry Revitalisation Programme, which aims to increase poultry production in collaboration with the Poultry Farmers’ Association. The project will provide incentives to promote household poultry farming and boost domestic consumption.

Under the “Feed the Industry” scheme, the initiative will also work towards increasing local raw material production for animal feed manufacturing, ensuring a stable supply of agricultural products for industrial use.

National Oil Palm Industry Policy

Mr. Opoku further announced a national oil palm industry policy that will offer incentives to support palm oil production and develop the value chain. The policy aims to address Ghana’s consumption deficit, promote commercial plantations, and position the country competitively in the global palm oil market.

Addressing Food Import Dependency

The minister explained that the programme is crucial due to Ghana’s over-reliance on food imports, which currently exceed $2 billion annually. This dependency poses significant risks to economic stability, with food imports alone costing around $300 million and exposing the country to external market fluctuations and currency instability.

Mr. Opoku also noted that challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited access to financing, and inefficient farming techniques continue to hinder the growth of Ghana’s agricultural sector.

The Feed Ghana Programme aims to address these challenges and transform the country’s agricultural sector into a more self-sufficient and sustainable industry.

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