AreaGhana

Commodity GroupRice

CommodityAll

Date28/08/2023

Policy CategoryProduction

Policy InstrumentProduction support, finance and credit facilities, Government procurement

DescriptionLaunched Phase II of the Planting for Food and Jobs campaign, which is to be implemented for five years with the aim of transforming agriculture by supporting production of 11 commodities, including rice. Under the second phase of the scheme, the Government would no longer provide seeds and fertilizers at subsidized prices to smallholder farmers and settle the associated payments with input distributors. Instead, it would establish an input credit system involving the private sector. It would also provide support services, logistical and infrastructural channels to help raise productivity levels and reduce post-harvest losses. Increased focus would be laid on commercial farming, including through the establishment of Agriculture Zones. To help producers market their produce, the programme would include in-kind payment arrangements for produce harvested by registered farmers, purchases by the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to service public distribution needs, and listing of products for purchase by the Ghana Commodities Exchange. Up to 1.2 million farmers are expected to enroll in the programme during its first year of implementation, with 210 000 farm-related jobs expected to be created annually by the scheme in its remaining four years of implementation.