Hon. Yaw Frimpong, the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, has stressed the vital assistance Phase II of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative will extend to women farmers. This support includes access to necessary inputs, contingent upon beneficiaries registering their lands with the District Directorate of Agriculture by the conclusion of March 2024, aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity.
Speaking at the 6th Annual Gathering of the Royals, organized by the Agrihouse Foundation under the theme “Seeds of Change: Cultivating Gender Equality in Agriculture and Honoring Women’s Advancement” on Thursday February 29th 2024, in Accra, he outlined plans to provide women farmers with access to inputs.
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture urged Queen Mothers to play a pivotal role in facilitating access to land for youth, particularly women, encouraging them to leverage input credits for commercial agriculture to address unemployment. He stressed the importance of achieving self-sufficiency in food production and reducing importation by 10% to 20% by 2027.
“After reviewing the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative, we have identified several gaps, such as the need for financial assistance and recognizing the potential of women in agriculture. Therefore, we are providing access to input credits under Phase 2 of the program,” He explained.
To qualify for support, beneficiaries must have registered land with the District Directorate of Agriculture by the end of March. The program will target farms cultivating various crops and poultry, connecting them to aggregators who will provide agricultural inputs on credit through extension officers. The cost of inputs will be deducted from the total revenue at the end of sales.
Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, also announced plans to appoint off-takers to purchase produce directly from farms and transport them to warehouses, thereby easing the burden of marketing and selling for farmers. This streamlined process aims to ensure efficient distribution of agricultural products to consumers and enhance the agricultural value chain.
In addition to supporting farmers, he assured stakeholders of improved infrastructure, including road networks, to facilitate agricultural activities effectively. He emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing productivity and sustainability in the agricultural sector.
