The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Bismark Owusu Nortey, stated in a Press conference today, August 15, 2024, that Phase Two of the Planting for Food and Jobs program (PFJ 2.0) is being taken over by politicians, who are now using it as a means of seeking political power.
The Executive Director claims that instead of providing input seeds and fertilizers to aggregators and the District Department of Agriculture for distribution to farmers, these supplies are now being given to the parliamentary candidates and the District Chief Executives (DCEs) for distribution.
He noted that the strategy originally designed for selecting beneficiaries and distributing fertilizers and seeds did not involve politicians. “No part of the strategy mentioned grants or the involvement of politically exposed persons in the selection of beneficiary farmers and distribution of fertilizers and seeds”.
He further highlighted that the input distribution formula under the grant component of PFJ 2.0 has become an avenue for some unscrupulous public officials and politicians to demand payments from farmers before they can benefit.
“What is the role of the DCEs and the Parliamentary Candidates in input distribution? Are they replacing the work of aggregators and the district agriculture department and which criteria are they using to distribute the fertilizers? Would the beneficiaries pay back, if they will, who are they paying to? If they are not paying back, why must it be the role of politicians to be involved in inputs distribution?” The Executive Director quizzed, which he believes these questions need to be addressed by the Ministry of Agriculture.
He also stated that in the midst of the planting season, none of the supporting services that the farmers are supposed to receive from the government under Planting for Food and Jobs Phase Two have been comprehensively provided.
“In fact, the Bryan Acheampong PFJ 2.0 is no different from the Owusu Afriyie Akoto PFJ 1.0, as both are primarily about the supply of fertilizers and seeds,” the Executive Director asserted.
Bismark Owusu Nortey recalled the launch of PFJ 2.0, where the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, told the farmers to anticipate comprehensive input and service support across the value chain and that the only thing the farmers needed was land.
“This implied that the Ministry was going to facilitate land preparation services, mechanization, extension, harvesting and marketing services, in addition to all input support, including seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals,” He highlighted.
Bismark Owusu Nortey urged Ghanaians to brace themselves as food prices may rise if the necessary steps are not taken.
PFAG, therefore, calls on Parliament to summon the Minister of Food and Agriculture to address these concerns.
