GH¢2.9bn spent on PFJ 1

 

GH¢2.9 billion spent on PFJ 1

The government has so far spent an estimated GH¢2.9 billion on its flagship agriculture programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), since its introduction in 2017, minority lawmakers say. A breakdown of expenditure on the program shows that the government spent GH¢400 million in 2018, GH¢380 million in 2019 and about GH¢400 million in 2020. In addition, GH¢439 million was spent on the program in 2021, GH¢614 million GH¢ in 2022 and GH¢ 660 million in 2023.

Despite the huge sums spent, they said, the sector's growth rate has remained painfully low at around 0.7 per cent - with the country grappling with rising food inflation not seen in decades. “After we inherited an agricultural sector with a growth rate of 2.7 percent in 2016 and after spending millions of cedis on PFJ for six years, agricultural growth is currently at a disastrous 0.7 percent,” Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee for Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, said in a press statement.

Launched in 2017, the PFJ aimed to modernize agriculture, improve production and achieve food security and profitability for farmers. The first phase of PFJ (Crops) aimed to promote food security and immediate availability of selected food crops in the market as well as provide jobs.

He further stated that overall inflation has soared to 54.1 percent in December 2022 and currently stands at 43.1 percent. It was against this backdrop that he said the program was a monumental failure with very little to see. The minority also raised concerns over the allocation of GH¢660 million to the PFJ in 2023 despite the government announcing that the first phase of the PFJ ended in December 2022.

The statement further demanded clarification on the allocation until 2023 and insisted that the government should clarify what the money is for. Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo last month launched the second phase of the PFJ – which represents a shift in policy direction from an entry subsidy in the first phase to an entry loan guarantee scheme.

“Why has the government not supported food crop farmers in Ghana since January 2023? Private agro-dealers and aggregators have been implementing various forms of input credit support programs for farmers for many years; what exactly will this new PFJ entry credit do differently?

"We still cannot account for the so-called increase in production that the Minister of Agriculture spouted. where is the corn where is the rice Where are the soybeans? It would be reasonable to expect that there would now be a surplus of food in Ghana, which would drive prices down,” he said.

The statement said constraints are identified in the first phase of the program - including the government's high budgetary burden; adopting a value chain approach; limited access to agricultural credit; low priority of the national strategic stockpile; and a limited focus on the needs of commercial small, medium and large scale farmers.

According to the minority member, the government renamed the PFJ from the original initiative of the former President Mahama/NDC administration called “Modernizing Agricultural Productivity to the Local Economy” (MAPLE). This program was to be funded by the Canadian government to the tune of 125 million Canadian dollars, equivalent to 120 million US dollars.

Dr. Seidu Jasaw claimed that after studying the PFJ Phase 2 policy document, it was found that there is nothing substantial new in it and that it will not bring any significant march towards the food security of the country. "We argue that the purpose of this new scheme is to clean up the mess of the failed first phase of the program and create a face-saving platform to continue to squander our scarce resources through the government's 'family and friends' devices," the statement captured.

The government was also asked how it intends to protect small farmers from the profit motives and market risks under which input traders operate; and how it will achieve import substitution for critical commodities such as rice, maize and poultry, as there are no measures to reduce input/production costs, among others. Dr. Seidu Jasaw noted that with the IMF program, the economy cannot support the entry subsidy program.

The Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program in Ghana was a transformational initiative aimed at revitalizing the agricultural sector and ensuring food security for the nation. The Government of Ghana has invested significantly in increasing agricultural productivity since its inception, with GH¢2.9 billion allocated to PFJ Phase 1. In this article, we delve into the impact of this significant investment and explore the relative keywords that highlight the success of the program.

Increased agricultural productivity

One of the primary objectives of the PFJ program is to increase agricultural productivity and the investment of GH¢2.9 billion in Phase 1 has played a key role in achieving this objective. Key words such as “agricultural productivity” and “PFJ impact” are essential to highlight the success of the program in increasing crop yields across the country.

Strengthening food security

Food security is a vital concern of every nation and PFJ has taken significant steps in this regard. Using keywords like “food security” and “PFJ contribution” we can highlight how investments in the program have helped ensure Ghanaians have access to a rich and diverse food supply. The PFJ program has not only improved agricultural production but also created numerous employment opportunities, especially in rural areas. Key words such as “job creation” and “rural employment” can be used to demonstrate the positive socio-economic impact of the GH¢2.9 billion investment.

Infrastructure development

Investment in agriculture involves more than just providing seeds and fertilizers. Funds allocated to the 1st stage of the PFJ were also used to develop infrastructure in the agricultural sector, including roads and warehouses. The use of keywords such as 'agricultural infrastructure' and 'rural investment' can highlight the wider scope of the programme's impact.

Sustainable agriculture

Sustainability is a key theme of the PFJ programme. By using  like "sustainable agriculture" and "environmentally friendly practices," we can highlight how the program promotes responsible agricultural techniques and resource management.

Empowerment of farmers

Empowerment of farmers is central to the PFJ initiative. Keywords such as “farmer support” and “capacity building” can be used to describe how the GH¢2.9 billion investment has enabled farmers to improve their skills and gain access to basic resources. The PFJ program promotes crop diversification, reduces dependence on a single crop and increases the overall resilience of agriculture.  such as "crop diversification" and "PFJ achievements" can illustrate the positive results of the program in this regard.

The modernization of agriculture is essential for its long-term sustainability. such as “digital agriculture” and “technology in agriculture” can highlight how the PFJ program has incorporated technological advances to improve farming practices.

The GH¢2.9 billion investment in Phase 1 of the PFJ program has had a profound impact on Ghana's agricultural sector. By strategically using keywords related to agricultural productivity, food security, job creation, infrastructure development, sustainability, farmer empowerment, crop diversification and digital agriculture, we can effectively highlight the achievements of the program and its role in driving agricultural growth and economic development in the country. .