Government PFJs, PERD & Other Agriculture Programs Are Scam – Nana Opambour Jabs
A President of a farmer base organization, Concerned Farmers Association, has described the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) as total failure to Ghana’s Agriculture development.
Nana Opambuor Bonsu Boateng speaking on Rite FM, alleged that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture discriminating against farmers and the agriculture sector, hence collapsing the sector.
In his accusation, “a well developed countries depend on scientists but in Ghana politicians are politicizing everything, as they dictate for farmers.”
The Akuffo Addo led government launched the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJs) program in 2017 – an initiative many Ghanaians especially crop farmers have hailed the government for.
Nana Bonsu Opambuor has lamented, saying the program yielded no or little result since its (PFJs) inception in 2017.
“In terms of Ghana’s Agriculture, everything is fraud, they are defrauding the farmers,” he fumed.
He dared the minister of food and agriculture to publish profit made from the PFJ if there is any.
Mr Bonsu Opambuor Boateng further blamed his alleged failure claim on neglect of farmers and farmer base organisations i the country.
“They (government) were supposed to involve the farmer Associations to bring live to the policy but the food producers were neglected,” Mr. Opambuor said.
On Monday 24th of June 2019, the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo launched another flagship programme, Rearing for Food Jobs (RFJ) in Wa in the Upper west Region.
The programme, which spans the period 2019-2023, is meant to develop a more competitive and efficient livestock industry which will increase domestic production, create jobs and reduce the importation of meat products.
Animals to be involved in the project are sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, chicken and guinea fowls.
According to Nana Opambuor Bonsu Boateng, the Rearing for Food and Jobs is a good policy, but the implementation was bad. The RFJ is aimed at reducing importation of meat, reason the poultry farmers must be involved for the aim to be achieved.
He accused the government for stealing the rearing for food and jobs from his association (Concerned Farmers Association) but had refused to invite them for stakeholder discussion about how best it could be implemented.
Results of The PFJs According To Government
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture says farmers registered under the government’s flagship agricultural program, Planting for Food and Jobs, made 1.2bn cedis in 2017 crop season.
A press statement signed by the Minister, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto in 2018, said the money was made out of sale of 485,000 metric tonnes of maize; 179,000 metric tonnes of rice and 45,200 metric tonnes of vegetables
The money is income that goes directly to the farmers after government invested seed capital of GHS560 million cedis to provide seeds, fertilizers, extension, and marketing services for the participants.
GDP From Agriculture in Ghana decreased to 7845.50 GHS Million in the first quarter of 2019 from 8723.60 GHS Million in the fourth quarter of 2018. GDP From Agriculture in Ghana averaged 6631.51 GHS Million from 2006 until 2019, reaching an all time high of 8723.60 GHS Million in the fourth quarter of 2018 and a record low of 5322 GHS Million in the fourth quarter of 2007.
