Despite the ambitious implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) policy in Ghana, the country is still grappling with food insecurity concerns. The policy, which initially aimed at boosting agricultural production, increasing food availability, and creating jobs, made notable strides during Phase I. However, recent developments have cast doubt on the long-term sustainability of these gains, prompting the government to raise GH₵8 billion to support food security interventions.
The looming food insecurity in Ghana, despite the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) policy, is driven by several key factors. One major challenge has been the volatility in food prices, which the Minority in Parliament has criticized as a failure of the PFJ initiative. Despite significant funding, food prices have continued to rise sharply. For instance, between January and June 2024, the price of a crate of tomatoes increased by over 360%, severely affecting household purchasing power.
Additionally, Ghana faces persistent structural issues in its agricultural sector. While the PFJ policy aimed to boost food production, factors such as inflation, climate change, and poor irrigation systems have hindered consistent crop yields. Inflation alone surged to 53.4% in early 2023, and though it decreased, the economic instability continues to impact food affordability.
Climate change poses one of the most significant threats to Ghana’s food security. Unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and floods have disrupted the planting and harvesting seasons, which significantly affects crop yields. These environmental challenges make it difficult for farmers to achieve consistent production levels, thus contributing to periodic food shortages. While the PFJ policy provided seeds and fertilizers, it didn’t sufficiently address the environmental factors that impact agricultural productivity.
Another critical issue undermining the success of the PFJ initiative is the high rate of post-harvest losses. Even when farmers achieve bumper harvests, poor storage facilities, lack of transportation, and inadequate market linkages lead to significant losses. According to reports, Ghana loses about $1.9 billion of its crop production to post-harvest losses annually.
The rising costs of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, seeds, and equipment have also contributed to the looming food insecurity in Ghana. Although the PFJ policy aimed to subsidize these inputs, the rising prices have overwhelmed the support mechanisms in place, making it difficult for farmers to sustain high production levels.
Another reason for the looming food insecurity is the limited access to markets for many smallholder farmers. Farmers often struggle to sell their produce at competitive prices due to poor infrastructure, lack of market information, and weak bargaining power. This has resulted in situations where food is produced but does not reach the urban centers where demand is high.
To improve food security in Ghana, the following recommendations should be considered;
Expanding Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiatives
For long-term food security, Ghana must invest in climate-smart agricultural practices, irrigation infrastructure, and early warning systems for weather changes. To achieve these, a percentage of the proposed GHC8 billion supporting food security interventions should be invested in these areas. Adopting climate-smart practices can create a more sustainable, profitable, and resilient agricultural system, benefiting both farmers and the environment.
Strengthening Post-Harvest Management
To combat the high levels of post-harvest losses, the government should focus on:
- Building storage facilities and cold chains in key agricultural regions through private partnerships.
- Support the development of transport networks to better connect farmers with urban markets.
- Encouraging the use of technological innovations such as mobile platforms for market information to help farmers reduce waste and get fair prices.
Waiving Taxes on Agricultural Inputs
As the subsidy program failed under PFJ Phase I, I wouldn’t recommend the government to run another subsidy program to reduce the financial burden on smallholder farmers because these farmers don’t get to enjoy the benefits of the subsidy program. I would rather urge the government to channel the subsidy funds to waiving taxes on agricultural inputs in order to reduce the open market prices for these inputs for the farmer to buy his inputs from the open market. With this, taxpayers’ funds won’t get into the wrong hands as compared to PFJ Phase I where fertilizers were being smuggled.
Develop Market Linkages and Value Chains
Improving market access for farmers can significantly reduce food waste and boost income. This can be achieved by:
- Encouraging the formation of farmer cooperatives to enhance bargaining power and access to larger markets.
- Promoting value chain development by supporting small agro-processing enterprises that can turn surplus food into marketable products (e.g., tomato paste or dried vegetables)
Support Research and Development (R&D)
Investing in R&D for agriculture is essential to boost productivity and resilience. The government should:
- Collaborate with research institutions to develop high-yielding, climate-resistant crop varieties.
- Invest in research on post-harvest technologies and market trends to help farmers stay competitive in both local and international markets.
Article by
Joshua Larweh Tetteh
He is the Programs Manager at YAFO Institute. He works along with the other executives to plan, organize, and carry out activities in accordance with the organization’s goal and vision.
