On Monday, our Chief Executive Office, Mr George Abradu-Otoo, accompanied by the management team briefed the Parliament Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs on the food glut issue and the National Food Reserve.
Committee Chairman, Hon. Godfred Jasaw lauded NAFCO for good job so far.
The Deputy Minister, accompanied by senior directors from the Ministry, had earlier interacted with several exhibitors before arriving at the NAFCO stands.
A Quality Control Officer, Sylvia Sowatey, briefed the delegation on NAFCO’s operations, including ongoing efforts to restock the national food reserve using surplus grains from local farmers.
She noted that the company also maintains stocks for the ECOWAS Regional Food Reserve in addition to serving as the lead supplier of non-perishable foods to public senior high schools under the Free SHS programme
Mr. Dumelo commended NAFCO for its role in strengthening the government’s food security agenda, describing its interventions as “timely and impactful.”
NAFCO is one of 21 government agencies exhibiting at the week-long fair, which showcases achievements across Ghana’s agriculture, fisheries and agribusiness sectors.
Some 250 exhibitors, including input dealers, development partners, seed producers, academia and financial institutions, are participating to promote agriculture as a dignified and rewarding profession.
The fair will climax on Friday with the 41st National Farmers Day celebration, where distinguished farmers, fishermen and other sector players will be honoured.
Sector Minister Eric Opoku officially opened the fair on Monday, reiterating the government’s commitment to prioritising agriculture. Also present were Regional Minister James Gunu and Council of State member Gabriel Kwamigah.
This year’s celebration is themed “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future.”
Source:MyJoyOnline
.
He said the move would mark a strategic shift towards seed sovereignty as a cornerstone of national food security.
“Without seed sovereignty, there can be no food security,” Mr Opoku said when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series at the Presidency in Accra yesterday.
The minister outlined a comprehensive plan to end the recurring crisis of delayed imported seeds that often arrived after the planting season.
He stated that with the support of the Korea Plant Industries Association (KOPIA), Ghanaian farmers were undergoing intensive training in seed production. Simultaneously, Korea Rural Cooperation was also developing irrigation infrastructure on 100 hectares of land to support rice seed production.
To ensure sustainability and affordability, the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) has commissioned a one-megawatt (1MW) solar farm to power the irrigation systems, with technical support from the Ministry of Energy, the minister detailed.
“This project is expected to be completed in 2027. It will produce 10,000 tonnes of high-quality rice seed, and Ghana will be well on its way to rice seed independence,” Mr Opoku said.
Further collaborations were underway with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is training rice seed producers in Wheta in the Ketu North District in the Volta Region, the Upper East Regional capital, Bolgatanga, and Tono in the Kassena-Nankana District, Upper East.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been signed with the government of The Netherlands to facilitate both technical and financial capacity building for the development of vegetable seed production in Ghana.
The minister also expressed the ministry’s “unqualified appreciation” to KOPIA for making available 300 tonnes of Agyapa Rice Seed, developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), to support rice farmers free of charge.
The foundational work on seed sovereignty is part of a broader scientific overhaul.
“FAO, MoFA and the Soil Research Institute of CSIR are collaborating to build a reliable scientific foundation for sustainable soil management and agricultural planning in Ghana,” Mr Opoku stated.
On climate resilience, the Food and Agriculture Minister reported significant strides, noting the installation of 20 automated weather stations.
“These stations, unlike manual ones, collect data automatically 24/7, ensuring higher accuracy and consistency, faster data transmission and enhanced forecasting and climate modelling for disaster prevention and farm planning,” he explained.
This focus on seed sovereignty and climate resilience forms a critical part of the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda, which is being implemented through the Feed Ghana Programme.
Mr Opoku added that the programme had now evolved into a national movement, with institutions such as the Ghana Armed Forces, the National Service Authority and over 413 schools actively engaged in institutional farming.
To support the agricultural transformation, the ministry was also aggressively expanding irrigation infrastructure, he added.
The Food and Agriculture Minister also highlighted major private sector involvement, announcing a €154 million investment by the government of Italy in partnership with BF International, aimed at transforming large-scale commercial agriculture in Ghana.
Under the initiative, he said, a 10,000-hectare irrigated model farm was being developed for the production of rice, maize, soya and tomato on an all-year-round basis.
Mr Opoku assured the nation of the ministry’s commitment to delivering results with urgency, integrity and accountability, framing the collective effort as a generational mandate to transform Ghana’s agricultural sector.
Further solidifying the drive towards self-sufficiency, the government is executing a major revitalisation of Ghana’s poultry sector to curb the annual import bill of between $300 million and $400 million.
This is being pursued through a three-pronged strategy under the Poultry Industry Revitalisation Programme.
The programme comprises the Poultry Farm to the Table Project, which targets the production of four million birds through 50 anchor farmers; the Poultry Intensification Programme, which will empower 500 small-to-medium scale farmers to produce three million birds; and the ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ Initiative, a backyard poultry farming programme focused on women and youth, also targeting three million birds.
The minister confirmed that the ‘Nkoko Nketenkete’ initiative, which had already successfully distributed 720,000 birds to 13,000 farmers in 12 districts as a pilot, would be fully launched for the immediate distribution of three million birds to all constituencies.
To manage the anticipated boom in local production, he said, the government would establish a poultry processing factory in Bechem, and that the sod would be cut on Thursday.
Mr Opoku announced that the procurement processes had been completed, and the sod-cutting ceremony would be performed by President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday.
“These coordinated interventions are designed to substantially reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported poultry, create sustainable jobs and improve access to affordable, protein-rich food for all Ghanaians,” Mr Opoku stated.
Source: graphic.com.gh
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has announced a €154 million investment from the Government of Italy, in partnership with BF International, to support the transformation of large-scale commercial agriculture in Ghana.
He made the announcement at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, November 24.
According to him, the project will include the development of a 10,000-hectare irrigated model farm for the all-year-round cultivation of rice, maize, soya and tomatoes.
As part of the initiative, CIHEAM Bari, an agency of the Italian Government, will collaborate with the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI) at the University of Ghana to establish a national seed bank.
CIHEAM Bari will also partner with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to roll out a nationwide soil testing and land-suitability programme to improve crop performance.
Mr Opoku explained that these efforts fall under the Mahama administration’s Feed Ghana Programme, introduced to modernise agriculture, strengthen food security, support job creation, reduce import dependence and increase domestic production and exports.
He outlined a series of developments achieved over the past nine months.
He noted that 10 new small dams have been constructed while eight existing irrigation dams have been rehabilitated. In addition, 250 solar-powered boreholes have been installed for farming communities and second-cycle schools across the five regions of the north, Bono and Ahafo.
The Agric Minister noted that major irrigation schemes are also undergoing rehabilitation.
These include the Vea Irrigation Scheme in the Bolgatanga and Bongo districts of the Upper East Region, covering 850 hectares; the Weta Irrigation Scheme in the Ketu North Municipality of the Volta Region, covering 880 hectares; and the Tanoso Irrigation Scheme in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region, covering 100 hectares.
The Kpong Irrigation Scheme in the Shai Osudoku and Lower Manya districts of the Greater Accra and Eastern regions, which spans 930 hectares, is also being upgraded, together with the 200-hectare Ashaiman Irrigation Scheme in Greater Accra and the 245-hectare Aveyime Irrigation Scheme in the Volta Region.
He added that 25 solar-powered boreholes have already been completed, and the remaining 10 will be ready in the first quarter of 2026, alongside 44 additional solar boreholes for selected northern districts.
The Minister said processes have begun for the development of several inland valleys for rice production.
These include the 175-hectare Anunuso Inland Valley in the Anunuso, Brofoyedu, Nkwawkwanua and Awaham communities of the Ashanti Region; the 150-hectare Atonsu Inland Valley in the Atonsu and Abramaso communities, also in the Ashanti Region; and the 647-hectare Kawampe Inland Valley serving the Kwawampe, Tanfulto, Kaaka, Tadefufuo, Tahiru Akura, Chiranda, Atta Akura and Abrewanko communities in the Bono East Region.
Additional developments include the Odaho and Odamu Inland Valleys in the Yaw Nkrumah and Donuaso communities of the Ashanti Region, covering 114 hectares, along with the Waamu-Kumi Inland Valley in Waamu Kumi and Offinho, also in the Ashanti Region, which covers 114 hectares.
Mr Opoku revealed further that the Government of Ghana and the Korea Rural Cooperation (KRC) are constructing irrigation infrastructure on 100 hectares of land to support rice seed production.
He assured the public that the Mahama administration is committed to expanding irrigation systems nationwide to promote all-year-round farming.
He said the government expects 10,000 tonnes of high-quality rice seed to be produced by 2027, adding, “Ghana will be well on its way to rice seed independence.”
He also highlighted improvements in food inflation, recalling that it stood at an unprecedented 61 per cent in January 2023, dropped to 28.3 per cent in January 2025, and declined further to 9.5 per cent by October 2025.
According to him, this demonstrates the positive impact of the reforms and strategic interventions being rolled out under the Feed Ghana Programme.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has urged the teeming unemployed youth to engage in farming, as the government does more to modernise agriculture.
He said the agriculture sector and farming in particular remained a lucrative enterprise with huge prospects to improve the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.
Mr Opoku dispelled the wrong public perception that farming was not lucrative and reserved for the poor, saying, “many of the successful individuals in the country are engaged in farming”.
“In fact, the biggest farmer in the country now is President John Dramani Mahama and no farmer in Ghana cultivates more onions, maize and rice than he does,” Mr Opoku stated.
The Minister gave the advice when he spoke at the dedication of Apostle Clement Brakatu Temple of the Apostles’ Continuation Church International in Sunyani on the theme, “Except the Lord build house”.
Mr Opoku said: “Many prominent individuals are reaping substantial benefits from agriculture”, urging the youth to engage in farming to better their lots.
He expressed worry that presently the country spent at least $400 million annually on tomato imports from Burkina Faso, saying, “If we stop importing tomatoes, that money can be redirected to building of factories and creation of more job opportunities for the youth”.
Mr Opoku said the government had introduced the Feed Ghana Programme to advance the growth of the agricultural sector making the agriculture sector more attractive as well as inspire the masses to do backyard gardening and contribute to household food security.
He said: “Senior High Schools are being encouraged to engage in farming to feed their students with institutions being encouraged to venture into large-scale farming under the feed programme”.
Mr Opoku said the profitability in farming moved him to actively engage in the enterprise, adding that, “many politicians, former and present ministers of state as well as Members of Parliament are now farmers”.
He regretted what he described as the under-utilisation of the nation’s fertile and arable lands, saying, “Despite our abundant arable lands, we have not cultivated it sufficiently and as a result, we import tomatoes and onions from Burkina Faso and Niger”.
Mr Seid Mubarak, the MP for the Sunyani East Constituency, noted that the construction and dedication of the temple was a testament to the commitment of religious bodies to preach the gospel and thereby shape society.
Source: GNA
The Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC) celebrated a major milestone in its School Farm Programme, with participation rising to more than 700 schools across all 16 regions, reflecting growing national interest in practical agriculture and youth entrepreneurship.
Speaking at the 2025 KIC School Farm Awards Ceremony held Friday, November 22, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Great Hall, Executive Secretary Benjamin Gyan-Kesse said the initiative is transforming how young people perceive agriculture by making it accessible, relevant and financially rewarding.
The programme, which began as an experiment to make farming appealing for students, has evolved into a nationwide model for hands on learning. It equips young people with practical agricultural skills alongside entrepreneurial competencies such as record keeping, marketing strategies and basic business planning.
Gyan-Kesse noted that students across Ghana are learning through direct experience, developing new perspectives and discovering pride in agricultural work. KIC supports all participating schools with inputs including seeds, fertilizers and tools, while providing technical guidance through consultants and trained teachers.
The strong uptake from over 450 schools last year to more than 700 this year demonstrates a significant mindset shift among young Ghanaians, according to the executive secretary. He emphasized that more than 700 participating schools represent a wave of young people gaining confidence, problem solving abilities and leadership skills through agricultural practice.
Gyan-Kesse expressed gratitude to programme partners, the Mastercard Foundation and the Blue Skies Foundation, calling on additional private sector players, development agencies and district assemblies to expand the initiative, particularly in areas such as irrigation systems and agricultural technology support for schools.
Nana Joe Mensah, Board Chair of KIC, praised the programme as one of the country’s most transformative youth initiatives, rooted in collaboration between government, development partners and the private sector. Each school farm represents a model of practical education where science, teamwork and innovation converge, he added.
Mensah expressed the board’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and scaling the programme to ensure every school in the country can use agriculture as a tool for experiential learning. The expansion would deepen agricultural education’s integration into Ghana’s educational system.
Deputy Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Dr. Munawaru Issahaque, speaking on behalf of Director-General Prof. Ernest Kofi Davis, stressed that agricultural education remains a strategic priority for the service. It addresses youth unemployment, supports rural transformation and enhances national food systems.
The GES plans to deepen partnerships with KIC, the Mastercard Foundation and the Blue Skies Foundation to expand the programme’s reach to more districts and schools. Dr. Issahaque announced intentions to integrate more farm based learning into the national curriculum, strengthen school farm infrastructure, particularly water systems, and expand agribusiness oriented extracurricular activities.
The deputy director acknowledged the crucial role of teachers and school coordinators, describing them as architects of educational change. Their innovation and dedication empower students and strengthen entire communities through agricultural education, he noted.
Addressing students, Dr. Issahaque said their creativity, perseverance and determination make them the heartbeat of the programme and future innovators capable of shaping Ghana’s agricultural landscape. The school farm competition could empower students to go beyond planting crops to cultivate critical thinking, resourcefulness, teamwork, and skills to turn ideas into tangible results.
The 2025 awards ceremony operated under the theme “Rethinking Agriculture: Growing Young Minds to Feed Ghana’s Future.” The theme reflects efforts to reframe farming from a perceived burden to a vibrant, profitable, and technologically viable career path for young Ghanaians.
Over 1,000 schools, including institutions serving students with special needs, applied to participate in the 2025 competition, according to programme data. This overwhelming interest indicates the positive impact the initiative has generated among educational institutions nationwide.
Judging criteria evaluated multiple dimensions beyond simple agricultural output. Assessors examined the quality and yield of farm produce, consistency of best agricultural practices, innovation in farming techniques, and the strength of business plans developed by student participants.
KIC officers visited participating school farms throughout the year to award marks based on vegetable quality and effectiveness of farming practices. Additionally, students faced evaluation on how the programme contributed to promoting agriculture among young people in their schools and communities.
Winners for the 2025 KIC School Farm Awards received desktop computers, certificates of participation, plaques, trophies and medals. The recognition aims to celebrate excellence while encouraging continued engagement with agricultural education and entrepreneurship.
The overall best Senior High School award went to St. John’s Grammar School located in Accra. Students from Holy Cross Seminary in the Oti Region won the first runner up position. Nyinahin Catholic Senior High School and St. Joseph’s Senior High Technical School claimed second and third runner up positions respectively.
For the basic school category, Gbulahagu District Assembly Junior High School in the Northern Region emerged as overall winners. Okanta District Assembly Basic School came in as first runner up, with Asawinso Methodist B and Anyinam District Assembly Girls’ Model School claiming second and third runner up positions respectively.
The 2024 edition saw Tamale Girls Senior High School and Okanta Presbyterian Basic School win overall best SHS and JHS awards respectively. These past winners stand as examples of the programme’s success in cultivating agricultural interest and entrepreneurial thinking among Ghanaian students.
The programme provides specialized training on practical agricultural concepts. Students learn about nursing seedlings, transplanting techniques, cultivation bed preparation, proper application and use of approved chemicals and fertilizers, and the use of personal protective equipment in farming operations.
The School Farm Competition forms an integral part of KIC’s strategy to promote practical agricultural education and enhance entrepreneurial potential among students across Ghana. The initiative addresses the broader organizational goal of raising a generation of agricultural entrepreneurs who understand agriculture’s importance in sustaining livelihoods and contributing to national development.
KIC, a youth leadership and entrepreneurship training center, focuses on increasing awareness of agricultural opportunities and associated entrepreneurial benefits for young people. The organization’s projects provide support to youth ranging from high school students to medium scale business owners.
The Blue Skies Foundation initially launched the school farm initiative, with KIC assuming full management and operational responsibility as of 2024. This transition enabled KIC to scale the programme significantly while maintaining quality standards and expanding geographic reach across all regions.
The Mastercard Foundation’s partnership with KIC provides crucial financial and technical support enabling the programme’s expansion. The foundation’s involvement reflects broader commitments to youth development, skills training and economic opportunity creation across Africa.
The programme aligns with growing recognition that agriculture offers viable career pathways for young Ghanaians. Despite agriculture employing significant portions of the population, particularly in northern regions where the sector engages approximately 66.7 percent of people according to the 2021 Ghana Living Standards Survey, youth participation remains limited.
Factors contributing to low youth engagement include reliance on rudimentary tools and farming methods, low adaptation to climate change, minimal innovation uptake, and persistent negative perceptions about farming as a career. The KIC School Farm Competition directly addresses these challenges by demonstrating modern, technology enabled agricultural practices.
The programme emphasizes Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education through experiential learning. Students apply theoretical agricultural knowledge in practical settings, improving their skills while developing understanding of how scientific principles operate in real world farming contexts.
Programme objectives include changing negative perceptions about agriculture that have developed in Ghana over recent decades, spreading farming culture among young people, encouraging students to consider careers along the agribusiness value chain, developing positive attitudes about food systems, the environment and entrepreneurship, and encouraging educational system reforms to include compulsory agricultural courses in first and second cycle schools.
The expansion to more than 700 schools represents progress toward these objectives. However, organizers acknowledge that achieving system level transformation requires sustained effort, increased resources, and continued partnership between government, private sector, civil society and educational institutions.
Agricultural education advocates argue that practical farming programmes offer multiple benefits beyond individual student development. They contribute to food security, rural economic development, youth employment generation, and environmental sustainability when implemented effectively.
The 2025 awards ceremony reinforced commitments from stakeholders to continue expanding and improving the School Farm Programme. The gathering brought together representatives from education, agriculture, government, development partners and the private sector to celebrate achievements while planning future programme enhancements.
Source: NewsGhana.com
