The government has started the implementation of the Feed Ghana initiative with the cultivation of 500 acres of maize. This is expected to be scaled up to 2,000 acres by September 2026.
The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare Addo, addressing a government “Accountability Series” press briefing in Accra on Monday [August 4, 2025] described the Feed Ghana as a job creation effort designed to engage young people in large-scale agriculture while supporting national food supply systems.
“We have launched Feed Ghana with 500 acres of maize this year and aiming to increase this to 2,000 acres by September 2026,” he said.
He explained that the pilot phase is being undertaken with youth beneficiaries on lands in the Afram Plains and Yendi, with more sites expected to come on board. The produce will support the national school feeding programme and other state-run food supply efforts.
The programme is being implemented through the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
According to Mr Opare Addo, it forms part of the government’s strategy to link young people to structured opportunities in agriculture and agro-processing.
“This is not just farming. It is part of an integrated model, from seed to market, where young people are trained, equipped, and given clear production and sales targets,” he said.
Participants are being supported with technical training, inputs, mechanised services, and access to credit. Mr Opare Addo said these measures are intended to reduce the risks often associated with youth participation in agriculture.
Feed Ghana also aligns with other government programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II, which promotes aggregation, storage, processing, and structured market access.
In the coming months, the minister said the programme will expand to include rice, soya, and vegetables across at least six additional regions.
He said the long-term objective is to make agriculture a stable and attractive path to employment for young people, while strengthening the country’s food systems.
“We are taking agriculture to the young people not just as a last resort, but as a business, a business that feeds Ghana and builds futures,” Mr Opare Addo said.
