The CEO of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Anthony Morrison, has expressed concerns over the effectiveness of the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Morrison noted that a review of the New Patriotic Party’s 2024 Manifesto left him worried about the alignment of government policies with the National Development Planning Commission’s (NDPC) goals.
“I was looking at this from the production, logistical, processing, agro-industrialization, marketing, and sustainable financing gaps,” Morrison explained.
“Sixteen chapters mention agriculture in one form or another, whether it’s green financing, green jobs, or the cost of living. But what we are asking is, what is the government’s commitment towards direct funding for agriculture?”
Morrison highlighted that despite an investment of ¢2.7 billion in the first four years of PFJ, Ghana’s food importation bill increased by $4 billion, and post-harvest losses rose by ¢2.6 billion.
“The World Food Programme (WFP) even clearly stated that we are possibly in the region of having food insecurity,” he added.
He questioned the manifesto’s relevance, saying, “The current situation— is it incorporated in that manifesto?”
Morrison was also critical of the NPP’s plan to expand the PFJ program, including its Rearing for Food and Jobs initiative.
“You expand on something that is effective. You expand on something that is working,” he stated.
Based on his observations and interactions from the Oti to the Northern Region, Morrison claimed that “ministers, MPs, and chairpersons of the NPP are the ones distributing fertilizers and seeds. How do you expect farmers, who now have to buy these inputs, to go and produce? The agriculture sector needs a complete overhaul.”
Morrison called for a shift in focus away from over-reliance on cocoa as a cash crop.
“Over the past six years, we keep dwelling on cocoa. How much does cocoa give this country? The global value of cassava is $179 billion, corn is $30 billion, while cocoa is only $47 billion.”
He emphasized the need to align agricultural policies with national interests, pointing out that, “Thailand, which doesn’t even consume much cassava, makes more than $2 billion annually from it. We make only $1.5 billion from cocoa.”
Morrison also highlighted the importance of focusing on the rice and poultry industries.
“We consume about 3.2 million metric tons of maize annually, and our deficit is about 900,000 metric tons. Why don’t we invest more into maize so we can be food-sufficient?
“Our poultry importation bill for frozen chicken is about $1.2 billion. The poultry sector is the biggest value chain in the agriculture sector. Neglecting rice, maize, and poultry will have long-term effects,” he warned.
