In a decisive shift toward cooperative-led agriculture, the government is set to pilot 50 Farmer Service Centres across selected districts this year as part of the newly launched Feed Ghana programme, aiming to modernise farming and eliminate deep-rooted inefficiencies that have plagued past initiatives.
At a stakeholder engagement in Bolgatanga, Mr. Peter Nuhu, Coordinator of the Farmer Service Centres, revealed that the pilot will prioritize smallholder farmers and use cooperatives as the main delivery and accountability channels for inputs and mechanisation services.
“This time, we’re not just distributing inputs and hoping for the best,” Mr. Nuhu stated. “We’re building a structure that makes farmers visible, traceable, and responsible — together.”
Unlike past programmes such as the first phase of Planting for Food and Jobs — which struggled with issues like fertiliser diversion and poor farmer monitoring — the Feed Ghana model is betting on cooperative accountability. Under the new system, inputs such as fertilisers, seed, and access to tractors will be channeled through farmer groups rather than individuals.
“If a cooperative receives support for 40 acres, and one member defaults, the group bears responsibility,” Mr. Nuhu explained. “This encourages self-regulation and ensures that benefits are protected by the collective.”
The Farmer Service Centres, central to the Feed Ghana initiative, will act as one-stop hubs offering access to mechanisation, input credit, extension services, and ready market linkages. They are also expected to help curb the uneconomical spread of mechanised services — such as moving a tractor to till isolated one-acre plots — by deploying equipment where clusters of farmers are coordinated.
Each of the country’s regions is represented in the pilot phase, with selection based on historical agricultural productivity. In the Upper East Region, for example, only the most agriculturally active districts will be selected initially, with full national rollout expected by 2028.
The Feed Ghana programme, launched in April 2025 in Techiman under the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda, is targeting key food crops (like maize, rice, sorghum, soybean), tree crops (cashew, cocoa, shea), and livestock (poultry, goats, pigs, cattle).
While large-scale farmers will remain eligible for direct support, the bulk of the programme’s focus is firmly on empowering Ghana’s smallholder farmers — the backbone of the nation’s agriculture — by embedding them in organised structures with built-in accountability.
Mr. Nuhu concluded with optimism: “This isn’t just about inputs. It’s about trust, efficiency, and creating a sustainable system where farmers thrive together — not in isolation.”
