The program also provides grants to vulnerable farmers
As the farming season is far advancing, the Minister for Food and Agriculture has a stepped-up effort for the distribution of farm inputs. This is to enable farmers to undertake their farm enterprises to enhance productivity.
According to Dr. Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture, His Ministry has been working tirelessly to ensure the effective distribution of farm inputs to farmers for the 2024 agriculture season.
The effort aims to boost production, improve efficiency, and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change. the PFJ 2.0 program introduces an input credit system, which is a new feature designed to support farmers in accessing essential inputs.
The program also provides grants to vulnerable farmers, including female-headed households, elderly farmers, farmers with disabilities, and smallholder farmers with limited access to input resources.
Dr. Bryan indicated that, under the program, vulnerable farmers will receive a package of inputs including three 50kg bags of NPK fertilizer, one 50kg bag of urea fertilizer, and one 10kg bag of maize seeds.
In addition to the input grant for vulnerable farmers, the PFJ 2.0 program will also provide grants to the first 200,000 farmers who are fully registered on the Ghana Agricultural Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP). These farmers will receive two 50kg bags of NPK fertilizer, one 50kg bag of urea fertilizer, and one 10kg bag of maize seeds.
Furthermore, the Ministry has announced a special initiative to support farmers affected by the recent dam spillages in the Volta and Eastern regions. The $40 million Food Systems Resilience Programme will provide farmers with inputs including fertilizer, agrochemicals, seeds, and other essential agricultural products.
The Minister urged all farmers who have not yet registered on the GhAAP platform to do so through the website www.ghaap.com or contact their district agriculture departments. He also encouraged those who have challenges requesting for inputs on the platform to contact their district agriculture departments for assistance.
The PFJ 2.0 program is built upon five strategic elements, including input credit system, storage and distribution infrastructure, off-take arrangements or commodity trading, digitized platform, and line of sight management and coordination.
The government's commitment to agriculture is evident in its efforts to improve the sector's productivity and contribution to food security. With the launch of PFJ 2.0, farmers can look forward to increased access to essential inputs, improved livelihoods, and a brighter future for Ghana's agricultural sector.
The Ministry has engaged district agriculture departments and focal persons to ensure the smooth distribution of inputs without delay. For effective monitoring of the distribution process throughout the country, the sector minister has assigned the two Deputy Ministers for Agriculture Hon. Yaw Frempong Addo and Hon Mohammed Hardi Tufeiru to oversee and ensue that farmers receive these inputs timely. All inputs have been successfully moved to the farming communities
MoFA has emphasized that the programme is not only a response to the immediate needs of our farmers but also a long-term investment in Ghana's agricultural sector. The ministry believes that by providing support to farmers, Ghanaian agriculture will be stronger and more resilient.
