Farmers Want PFJ Continuation Assurance – Report

Wepia Awal

 

Members of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) have called on the two major political parties the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to give an assurance of sustaining the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Programme initiative beyond election 2024.

This unrest from the farmer association was contained in an evaluation report on the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme Phase II (PFJ 2.0) by the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG).

The farmers raised concerns about the programme’s sustainability beyond the 2024 general elections.

The report, which surveyed farmers across different geographical belts in 13 out of the 16 regions, gathered feedback from 4,160 individual farmers.

Many of the challenges identified during the second phase of the programme revolved around fears that PFJ 2.0 may be discontinued irrespective of the political party in power after January 7, 2025.

“Regarding the sustainability of PFJ 2.0, a majority of respondents expressed apprehension that the programme might be terminated post-2024 elections,” a section of the report stated.

PFAG President, Wepia Awal A. Adugwala, speaking at the National Validation Workshop for PFJ 2.0, emphasised the need for a clear agricultural policy in the manifestos and programmes of presidential candidates to drive radical transformation in the sector.

“The success of agriculture sets the stage for industrial growth in Ghana. We call for investments in rural infrastructure, storage facilities, and irrigation systems,” Adugwala stressed.

Mr. Adugwala assured PFAG members of ongoing advocacy efforts for policies empowering small-scale farmers to secure fair prices for their produce, underlining that supporting these farmers is pivotal for food security, rural development, and the welfare of millions.

PFAG’s annual assessments also highlighted issues such as smuggling, rent-seeking, and corruption, prompting calls for a programme review.

The workshop was organized by PFAG in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

By Prince Fiifi Yorke

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