A recent report on Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative recommends long-term investment in establishing a local input manufacturing industry to transform the agriculture sector structurally. The report emphasizes the importance of local manufacturing of inputs, particularly fertilizers, to mitigate the impact of import uncertainties on availability and affordability for farmers.
“Investment priorities should focus on sustainable intensification methods that rely less on imported inputs,” the report suggests.
This recommendation was made during a validation and dissemination workshop for a report on PFJ and One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiatives in Ghana’s Southern Belt. Commissioned by the Third Network-Africa, the report is based on a 2021 desk review, a reconnaissance study in August 2022, and primary data collection from May to July 2023, covering Gomoa East, West, and Central in the Central region. The study assessed the PFJ’s overall impact, particularly on maize and sweet potato farming.
Dr. Faustina Obeng, the lead researcher, presented the report and highlighted the need for an effective and sustainable output market to ensure improved productivity translates into food availability for local markets. “Effective aggregation and distribution mechanisms are needed to connect high production areas to those with high demand but low production,” the report states.
Additionally, the report calls for a mass input subsidy program with a credible scheme to ensure the initiative’s sustainability and equity. It notes that the PFJ intervention has subsidized inputs for farmers and suggests creating a robust scheme to ensure their availability.
Addressing the PFJ and 1D1F linkages, Dr. Obeng pointed out that connections between agriculture and manufacturing need concrete action plans to be effective. The report recommends focusing agro-processing on crops requiring industrial processing to manage surplus or enhance consumption.
Launched in 2017, the PFJ and 1D1F initiatives aim to boost agriculture and manufacturing sectors, strengthening domestic food production and creating jobs. PFJ seeks to expand agricultural production, while 1D1F focuses on reviving and establishing domestic manufacturing capacity.
Dr. Yaw Graham, Coordinator of TWN Africa, emphasized the report’s goal to help stakeholders contribute to structural economic transformation and reduce reliance on raw agricultural products. He stressed the importance of optimizing local production, stabilizing imports, and addressing challenges in the implementation of both initiatives.
