The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has begun positioning its members to take full advantage of the government’s Feed Ghana programme, through a capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening farmer groups for effective participation.
The training, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) and supported by the STAR Ghana Foundation, brought together farmer group leaders from the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo, and Ashanti Regions. Participants were tasked to return to their communities and transfer the knowledge gained to other farmers.
Speaking at the opening session in Techiman, PFAG Programme Officer Dr. Benjamin Sarfo explained that the initiative was part of the Association’s broader effort to ensure smallholder farmers benefit equitably from national agricultural programmes.
He noted that many small-scale farmers often miss out on government interventions due to limited information or technical know-how. “Our aim is to bridge that gap so that peasant farmers can also fully participate and benefit from the Feed Ghana programme,” he said.
Dr. Sarfo praised the Feed Ghana programme, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, describing it as a timely initiative that would modernise farming, boost yields, and create jobs in rural communities.
Municipal Director of Agriculture for Techiman, Mr. Stephen Aidoo, highlighted that the programme offers a wide range of incentives—including access to seedlings, inputs, and post-harvest facilities—but requires farmers to register in groups and possess a Ghana Card to qualify.
“Each farmer group must have between 15 and 40 members, be formally registered, and maintain a bank account. This will ensure accountability and equitable distribution of resources,” Mr. Aidoo explained.
He added that the programme supports both crop and livestock production, covering staples such as rice, yam, cassava, plantain, and soya beans, as well as tree crops like mango, oil palm, coconut, and cashew.
Mr. Aidoo further disclosed that the initiative will address one of the sector’s long-standing challenges—post-harvest losses—through the establishment of processing plants and storage facilities.
Reverend Philip Kennedy Sam, the Bono Regional Crop Officer at MoFA, encouraged the farmers to work closely with Agricultural Extension Agents and make the most of the support available.
“This initiative is a golden opportunity for our farmers to expand production, enhance livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to national food security,” he said.
The Feed Ghana programme forms a key pillar of President Mahama’s broader vision to revitalise the agricultural sector, promote agribusiness development, and empower smallholder farmers—especially women and youth—to drive inclusive growth across rural Ghana.
