The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, under the Planting for Food and Jobs phase II (PFJ II), is implementing the Savannah Agriculture Value Chain Development Project (SADEP) in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone.
These projects, funded by the African Development Bank, aim to promote commercial production of maize, rice, soybean and poultry, as well as improve food security in the country.
Strategy of agriculture sector projects
Upon taking office as the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong recognised that numerous projects within the agriculture sector were operating in silos, lacking a cohesive approach.
To overcome this challenge, he worked tirelessly to streamline and harmonise these initiatives, ensuring that they converged toward a unified goal.
To revitalise the sector, Dr. Bryan assessed ongoing projects to identify the current status and areas for improvement. This evaluation informed the steps taken to ensure that projects under the sector, including SIP and SADEP, are aligned with the overall objectives of the agricultural sector and were executed through the Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II (PFJ 2.0) initiative.
Achievements
Since the inception of these projects, significant achievements have been recorded. The total land area under cultivation has increased from 80 hectares in 2018 to 38,230 hectares, with 454 medium to large-scale commercial farmers supported.
Last year’s farming season saw 78,351 out-growers supporting to cultivation of maize, soybean and rice under conservational agriculture practices.
The projects have also recorded impressive yields, with 146,205 metric tonnes of maize, 38,913 metric tonnes of rice and 13,860 metric tonnes of soybean harvested from farmers’ fields.
The yield levels have improved significantly, with maize recording 5.7 metric tonnes per hectare, rice recording 5.1 metric tonnes per hectare and soybean recording 2.8 metric tonnes per hectare using improved seed and best conservational agriculture practices.
Support
The projects have provided support to farmers through market facilitation, allowing them to sell their harvested grains to off-takers, including Ghana Nuts Company, Rockland Feeds, Starpro, VADD Ltd. and other private agro-industries. The projects have also helped farmers to access affordable and timely inputs, including seeds, fertiliser and agrochemicals.
Female participation
The projects have encouraged female participation in commercial farming, with 45 female farmers owning an average of 500 hectares of land. This is a significant achievement, as women’s access to land can be challenging without project support.
Breeding and rearing
The projects have supported the breeding and rearing of small ruminants (goats and sheep) and poultry. A total of 13,000 small ruminants have been distributed to 664 out-breeders in 10 municipalities and 50 livestock breeding stations.
Egg production
The projects have also provided support to women and youths for egg production, with a total of 1,000 beneficiaries receiving packages – including battery cages, pullets, feed, vaccines and medication. The layer intervention has since December 2021 recorded 25.895 million eggs.
TAAT programme
The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme is an integral part of the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa Strategy 2016-2025. The programme aims to raise agricultural productivity in Africa by harnessing proven technologies and increasing food output by 100 million tonnes by 2025.
The SIP and SADEP projects are making significant strides in boosting agricultural productivity and food security in Ghana. The projects have supported commercial farmers, improved yields, and provided support to farmers through market facilitation and access to affordable inputs.
The projects have also encouraged female participation in commercial farming and supported the breeding and rearing of small ruminants and poultry birds. With the support of the African Development Bank and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, these projects are poised to continue positively impacting the country’s agricultural sector.
