MINISTER’S PRESS BRIEFING 1

PRESS BRIEFING

BY

HON. DR. OWUSU AFRIYIE AKOTO

MINISTER FOR FOOD AND

AGRICULTURE

29th August 2021 2

Presentation Outline

1. INTRODUCTION

2. MAJOR ISSUES

❑ Expansion in Fertilizer and Seed Distribution

❑ Improvement in extension service delivery

❑ Intensified surveillance of farms and live bird markets in the wake of Avian influenza

outbreak

❑ Sector contributes 48% of factories under 1D1F initiative

3. CONCLUSION 3

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Ministry has mandate to promote sustainable agriculture and

thriving agribusiness through:

▪research and technology development,

▪effective extension and other support services to:

➢producers, processors, distributors and consumers for:

➢improved food security, nutrition and incomes.

4

Agriculture Situation Prior to Inception of PFJ in 2017

•Only 11% of food crop farmers using improved seeds

•About 15% farmers using fertilizers

•Fertilizer application rates was 8kg/Ha

•Extension-Farmer Ratio was 1:1,900

•Total number of Extension Agents in 2016 was 1,560 5

Agriculture Situation Prior to Inception of PFJ in 2017 Cont’d

• Yields of most staple crop varieties (maize, rice & root tubers) were

between 40%-45% of potential yields.

• Vegetable exports to the EU were banned.

• Rising devastating effects of the Fall Army Worm (FAW) on crops

especially maize.

• All 68 mechanization centers were down and providing no service to

farmers. 6

Key Objectives of Priority Programmes

• Productivity Improvement

• Food Self Sufficiency, Import Substitution & Export Promotion

• Warehousing & Expansion of National Food Storage Capacity

• Agro-processing including cocoa– Ghana beyond Aid

• Job Creation

7

Agricultural GDP Growth Rate (%)- 2016-2020

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Ag GDP

Growth Rates

6.7 6.2 4.9 4.7 7.4*

Crops 2.2 7.2 5.8 5.3 8.7

Cocoa 7 9.2 3.7 5.4 1.9

Livestock 5.4 5.7 5.4 5.4 5.4

* Contributions of Fisheries and Forestry sub-sectors inclusive8

9

Planting for Food and Jobs sees an Expansion in Fertilizer and Seeds Distribution- Food Crops Module

1. Planting for Food and Jobs sees an Expansion in Fertilizer and

Seeds Distribution- Food Crops Module

10

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Target 200,000 500,000 1,000,000 1,200,000 1,500,000

Total Beneficiaries 202,000 677,000 920,000 1,700,000

-

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

1,400,000

1,600,000

1,800,000

Nu

mb

er o

f B

enef

icia

ries

Year

Target Total Beneficiaries

Target

Increased Number of PFJ Beneficiaries

Expanded Quantities of Fertilizer (MT) Distributed under PFJ- Food Crops Module

134,000 121,000

247,039

331,348

423,473

520,000

-

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

2016-Base

Yr.

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Qu

an

tity

MT

Year

2021

TARGET

11

Expanded Quantities of seeds supplied (MT)-Food Crops Module

2,750 4,400

6,822

18,333

29,500

40,000

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

2016-Base Yr. 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

Qu

an

tity

(M

T)

Year

2021

TARGET

12

Food Crops Module - Demonstrations Intensified

13

Row Planting Demonstration Plots in

Levorketu, Jasikan District,Volta RegionA Dry Season Cabbage Demonstration

Field- Bekwai-Ashanti Region

A typical PFJ farm in the Northernregion in 2020

PFJ Maize farm at Savelugu (Kukobila) in the Northern Region

14

Yield of Major Crops (MT./Ha)

Crop 2016* 2017** 2018** 2019** 2020** % Change in PFJ

(2020/2016

Achievable yield

Maize 1.7 3.5 3.5 3.8 3.3*** 94% 5.5

Rice 2.7 4 4 4.3 4.5 67% 6.0

Sorghum 1.1 1.24 1.39 1.57 2.0 82% 2.0

Soybean 1.7 3 3 2 1.6*** -6% 3.0

*National average **PFJ Average *** Drought effect15

Drought affected farm at Sewua in the Afram Plains North District.- Eastern region

Drought Spell in 2020

16

Wilted maize field in Babator, Kintampo North in the Bono East Region

17

Trends in Major Staple Crop Production (‘000MT) Under the PFJ

18

CROP

TYPE

2017 2018 2019 2020 Expected for

2021

Maize 485 637.2 1,523 2,019 1,806*

Rice (Paddy) 179 416 563 919.8 1,624

Soybean 33.4 119.5 137 193 345

* Expected reduction in maize production due to shortage of fertilizer supply in 2021

Trends of National Food Production (‘000MT)

Crop 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 **% Change

(2020/2019)

Maize 1,722 2,011 2,306 2,912 3,071 5.47

Rice (Paddy) 688 722 769 925 973 5.19

Millet 159 163 182 230 236 2.52Sorghum 230 278 316 347 356 2.56

Soybean 143 170 177 193 209 8.46

Groundnuts 426 434 521 558 566 1.42

Cowpea 206 211 237 254 257 1.33

Cassava 17,798 19,009 20,846 22,713 24,369 7.29

Yam 7,440 7,857 7,789 8,754 8,946 2.19

Cocoyam 1,344 1,387 1,461 1,549 1,596 3.06

Plantain 4,000 4,279 4,688 5,477 5,881 7.39

** Provisional Data 19

Annual Trends For Maize and Rice Imports (MT)

20

YEAR

CROP 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

MAIZE 113,855 79,771 40,661 81,708 8,819 9,353

RICE 1,082,224 982,044 819,839 830,127 1,087,516 708,018

Trends of Annual Average Wholesale Prices (GHS) for White Maize (2015-2020)

146139

119

89

105

155

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Pri

ce (

GH

C/1

00

Kg

YEAR 21

Drought

Effect

Trends of Staple Food Exports to Neighboring Countries (MT) (2015-2020)

Commodities 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Maize 11,015 10,909 19,666 23,483 14,128 17,240

Rice 3,400 3,066 3,671 3,527 759 322

Yam 2,489 10,503 13,352 24,667 29,078 31,127

Plantain 16,052 21,459 40,935 43,802 40,190 20,667

Soyabean 2,198 2,073 3,569 3,575 830 697

Total 35,154 48,011 81,193 99,054 84,986 70,05222

Comparing Ghana’s Food Security Situation to Neighboring

Countries

Ghana has stable food security situation Source: SAHEL ET AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST: SITUATION ALIMENTAIRE ET NUTRITIONNELLE 2020-21, CILSS, 2021

23

Warehouses for Storage of Grains – Food Crop Module

• Target - 80 warehouses

MoFA - 30

Completed - 21

MSDI - 50 handed over to MoFA.

Total available space when allcompleted – 114,000MT

24

25

Improvement in Extension Service Delivery Under the

Planting For Food And Jobs

2. Improvement in extension service delivery under the planting for Food and Jobs.

Staff and Logistics to facilitate

extension delivery

2016(a)

2017-2020(b)

Total to date (since 2016)(a+b)

Agric. Extension Officers

1,586 2,700 4,286

Extension-Farmer

Ratio1:1,900 1:709 1:709

Vehicles 178 305 483

Motor Bikes 1,000 3,367 4,367

26

27

Handing over ceremony of Vehicles between Global Affairs Canada and

the Ministry (MoFA)

28

Agriculture Sector Accounts for 48% of Factories under 1D1F

Initiative

1D1FObjective

• Create massive employment for the teaming youth in rural and peri-

urban communities thereby improve income levels and standard of

living as well as reduce rural urban migration

Link to Agriculture

• Raw materials to feed the agro-industries

• Provide ready market for agricultural produce

• Reduce post-harvest losses

• Create jobs and reduce rural-urban migration29

Status of Agriculture Sector Contribution to 1D1F Companies (278)

AGRO PROCESSING

& LIVESTOCK

48%

MANUFACTURING

44%

OTHERS

8%

AGRO PROCESSING & LIVESTOCK

MANUFACTURING

OTHERS

• About 49% of factories are agro-based. 30

31

Region Agro Processing and Livestock

Ashanti 27

Bono 14

Ahafo 3

Bono East 4

Central 9

Eastern 15

Greater Accra 13

Northern 4

North East 2

Savannah 4

Upper West 6

Upper East 6

Volta 10

Oti 2

Western 12

Western North 4

Total 135

AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES UNDER 1D1F

Interventions to Support Sustainability of 1D1F

The PFJ by its design will amongst others sustain the 1D1F agenda of

government through implementation of the five modules:

• FOOD CROP MODULE

• TREE CROP MODULE- PERD

• GREENHOUSE VILLAGES

• LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT- RFJ 32

Tree Crops Modules – PERDTotal Seedlings Distributed (‘000)

2018 2019 2020

Crop Type Achieved Achieved Achieved Total

Cashew 3,872 3,683 3,816 11,371

Coffee 1,115 2,197 100 3,412

Coconut 160 178 314 652

Oil Palm 3,061 872 3,5237,456

Mango N/A N/A 162 162

Rubber N/A N/A 135 135

TOTAL 8,208 6,930 8,050 23,188

Total seedlings distributed over three years is 23.188 Million 33

PERD Seedlings for Farmers at Kintampo in Bono East Region

34

Planting for Export and Rural Development - PERD

• Enactment of Tree Crops Development Act, TDCA

(1010) - December 2019

• Inauguration of Tree Crops Development Authority

to develop and regulate the tree crop sub-sector –

Sept 2020

35

Greenhouse Technology Development (Vegetable Production)

Greenhouse Training centres established at:

• Akumadan - (14,440 m2)

• Bawjiase - (14,440 m2)

• Dawhenya - (38,260 m2)

Total capacity – (67,140 m2)

Number of Agricultural Trainees (Degree, HND, and Certificate Holders):

• Total number of youth trained at the three centres - 537

• Total number sent to Israel to undertake paid internship - 190

• Number of interns who have returned from Israel - 151

• Number of Interns currently in Israel - 3936

Greenhouse Training Centre - Dawhenya

37

Greenhouse Training Centre - Bawjiase

38

39

Greenhouse Training Centre - Akumadan

40

The Hon. Minister Addressing Trainees at DawhenyaTraining Centre

41

Cucumber

Production in a

Greenhouse Facility

42

Policy Intervention Schemes TargetedExpected

Coverage (Ha) Small Earth Dams Constructed 14 earth dams 240

Large scale irrigation infrastructure Developed/Rehabilitated

Tono

Kpong left bank (Togorme)

Kpong Irrigation Scheme

Tamne Phase II

Mprumem Phase II

2,852

2,100

2,490

300

75

Total 7817

IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT

Irrigable Land Developed at Kpong Left Bank Irrigation Project

Aerial View of Land Developed

for Irrigation

43

before

Before

Rehabilitated Canal at Tono Irrigation Project

44

After

Agricultural Mechanization Promotion –Mechanization Module

• A total of 8,980 units of various machinery and equipment were imported and

distributed in 2019 and 2020

• Total beneficiaries - 927 made up of 33 District Assemblies and individuals.

• 8,148 ha of land developed for 76 commercial and smallholder rice, maize and

soya farmers under the Savannah Zone Agricultural Productivity Improvement

Project (SAPIP) funded by AfDB

• 33 bulldozer operators trained in Tamale and operating in Northern, North East,

Savannah, Upper East, Upper West & Bono East Regions

45

Agricultural Mechanization Development –Mechanization Module

46

Rearing for Food and Jobs - Livestock Module

47

Interventions Beneficiaries Locations Remarks /

Output

2,370 Breeding pigs locally sourced

have been distributed (Year, 2021)

474 farmers Western North, Ashanti,

Volta, Central & Greater

Accra Regions

Undertaken in 2021

A total of 7,500 improved breeding

stock Djalonke sheep sourced from

Burkina Faso were distributed

750 farmers All Northern Regions

including Oti Region

5,471 off springs

were produced and

transferred to other

farmers

1,290 improved breeding stock of

West African Dwarf goats sourced

from Burkina Faso have been

distributed

25 out breeder farmers and

2 livestock breeding

stations

Bono East Region

(Kintampo)

Northern Region

(Savelugu)

Undertaken in 2021

From 2019 to 2021, a total of

116,000 cockerels supplied

11,600 smallholder farmers All 16 regions Undertaken in 2021

Rearing for Food and Jobs - Livestock Module

• 1,200 poultry battery cages imported from China for 1,200 women

farmers

• 9 mechanized boreholes drilled for 9 livestock breeding stations at

Amrahia, Ejura, Nkwanta, Kintampo, Pong-Tamale, Wulugu, Babile,

Doba & Busa.

• 11 livestock sheds have been constructed for 5 livestock breeding

stations at Ejura, Nkwanta, Babile, Doba & Busa .48

New Livestock shed at EjuraSheep Breeding Station

49

Improved Breeds of Sheep Supplied to Farmers

50

51

Cockerels Supplied to Farmers in Oti Region

Rearing for Food & Jobs -RFJ

A total of 53 poultry farmers were supported to produce

44,000 broilers under the input subsidy support in the Eastern,

Greater Accra & Ashanti Regions as a pilot in 2020

(50% subsidy provided on the cost of Day-Old-Chicks,

Vaccines and Feed for first 2 weeks)

52

Rearing for Food and Jobs - Livestock Module

•Three (3) laboratories located in Accra, Takoradi and Pong

Tamale were refurbished and upgraded to conduct COVID-19

testing.

•To date, a total of 107,588 individuals have been tested at

these laboratories.

•Three (3) staff trained to manage veterinary laboratory at

Dormaa in Bono Region.53

CURRENT OUTBREAK AND MANAGEMENT OF BIRD FLU IN GHANA

54

NATURE OF AVIAN INFLUENZA (BIRD FLU)

• Viral

• Highly pathogenic (causes severe diseases)

• Highly contagious and high mortality

• It is zoonotic (communicable to humans)

55

History of occurrence in Ghana

56

Date of

outbreak

Region(s) affected Number of birds affected

2007 (April ) Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo Minimal number

2015 (May) Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, Central

and Ashanti 148,000

2018 ( Ashanti and Brong Ahafo

12,175

2021(July, 7th) Gt. Accra, Central, Volta, Ashanti,

Western North and Western Regions 107,704

1. Immediate alert of World Organization for Animal Health

2. Awareness creation and sensitization

3. Immediate Ban on movement of poultry and poultry

products from affected farms

4. Stamping out and decontamination of affected farms

5. Intensification of surveillance 57

Protocols for Disease Management

Status of Outbreak and Interventions

Status

• 6 regions affected- (Greater Accra, Central, Volta, Ashanti, Western North and Western)

• Number of farms affected - 43 (culled- 76,077, natural deaths- 31,627)

Interventions (on-going)

1. Sampling, data collection and diagnosis

91 farms sampled

43 farms confirmed presence of the virus

58

Status of Outbreak and Interventions

2. Stamping-out and decontamination of affected farms

All 43 farms cleaned and disinfected

3. Nation wide surveillance Intensified

4. On-going public sensitization and awareness creation

5. Immediate ban on movement of poultry and poultry

products imposed

59

Challenges Challenges Mitigation Measures

COVID-19 1. Developed a comprehensive plan to mitigate effects2. COVID Alleviation & Revitalization of Enterprises

Support (CARES)

Climate change-Erraticrainfall Patterns

Rehabilitate and construct irrigation facilitiesPromote conservation agricultureEarly warning systems

Smuggling of subsidized inputs

Introduce restricted distribution in border districts. Branding of fertilizer bags, 25 kg bags.Regional Ministers supervising distribution of fertilizers. Engaging support from Security Agencies

60

Challenges

Challenges Mitigation Measures

Limited production of improved

seeds (hybrid maize sorghum,

groundnut)

Import from ECOWAS region in the

short term and develop local capacity

Limited Budgetary resources to scale

up interventions and reach more

farmers

MoFA exploring other sources of

funding from development agencies

e.g. IFAD, AfDB, World Bank

Unregulated movement of large

quantities of strategic commodities to

neighbouring countries

Parliament approved an LI to restrict

movement of foodstuffs.

61

CHALLENGES

• Inadequate work force for VSD

• Inadequate logistics for effective surveillance

• Inadequate operational budget

• Exclusion of VSD from Integrated customs management system

62

• PFJ made considerable impact on national food supply and food

security in spite of the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Provisional Agricultural GDP growth rates increased from 4.7% in 2019

to 7.4% in 2020.

• Government will continue to prioritize agriculture, provide the

necessary support and conducive policy environment to facilitate

investment in the sector.

63

CONCLUSION

•A solid foundation laid for diversification of the agricultural

exports by the creation of Tree Crop Development Authority

(TCDA).

•Future expansion of vegetable production and exports by the

introduction of the Greenhouse village.

•The revival of Farm Mechanization Centers provides the basis

for supporting farmers in mechanizing their farm operations.64

CONCLUSION

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

65