Many governments since 1957 have implemented many agricultural policies with the objective to boost Ghana’s agricultural sector. The current agricultural policy is Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) which is the government’s primary agriculture project for Ghana, and had huge hopes for the youth since its launch in 2017. The government of Ghana’s flagship project for agriculture, Planting for Food and Jobs, operated under 5 modules and promised jobs for the youth. The modules include Food crops, Planting for Export and Rural Development, Greenhouse Technology Village (3 Villages), Rearing for Food and Jobs, and Agricultural Mechanization Services.
So far, Ghs 6.2 billion cedis has been spent on the program which created 2.28 million jobs according to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Attah. The program faced challenges including low yield, unsubstantiated jobs, and the inability of farmers to benefit from subsidies.
Despite the initial challenges, the government intends to proceed with Planting for Food and Jobs 2.0. This discussion would allow reflection on some key agricultural policies in the past and also dive into Planting for Food and Jobs. We will look at the previous performance of agricultural policies, their limitations, and how they may be redesigned for a more effective and sustainable future. Let us work together to achieve the food security and agricultural success of all Ghanaians.
Join YAFO Institute for a critical and constructive conversation about Ghana’s flagship agricultural policies.
Date: 22nd February 2024
Time: 1 pm (13:00 UTC)
Guest Speaker
Dr. Haruna Gado Yakubu
He is an Animal Scientist, specialized in animal nutrition, feed safety, and animal products qualification, using correlative analytical methods. He obtained a Bachelor of Agriculture with First Class Honours, from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana, in 2016, a Master of Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety, from then Kaposvar University, now, the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Hungary, in 2019, and Doctor of Philosophy in Animal Sciences (Summa Cum Laude), from the same institution, in 2023.
Panelist
Joshua Larweh Tetteh
He is a policy scholar on agriculture at YAFO Institute. He has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – Ghana (KNUST). Aside from his degree, he is a farmer with many years of experience in the field of Agriculture. He was part of the team at the Crops Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ashanti regional office which coordinated the activities of the Planting for Food and Jobs program for the 2021/2022 crop season. As a Policy Scholar and Programs Manager for YAFO Institute, he has contributed immensely to the planning and execution of various programs and projects at the Institute.
