Mahama launches Feed Ghana Programme to tackle food insecurity and reduce imports

President John Mahama has launched the Feed Ghana Programme. This initiative aims to boost food production, reduce imports, and create jobs in agriculture.

The official launch took place in Techiman on April 12. The President outlined the programme's components and its focus on institutions, especially Senior High Schools. These schools will be encouraged to engage in commercial farming.

President Mahama described Feed Ghana as a development project, also known as Yeridua. He emphasized reducing imports from neighboring countries through controlled environmental farming. This includes greenhouse technologies and urban agriculture.

The first component focuses on backyard and community gardens. The President urged Ghanaians to grow vegetables at home for better nutrition and lower costs.

He said, “We will do backyard gardening.” He encouraged everyone to use land near their homes for growing tomatoes, garden eggs, okra, onions, and peppers. He recalled past experiences during the Operation Feed Yourself era when many families had backyard gardens.

He added that community gardens would enhance nutrition and household incomes.

The second component promotes institutional farming among Senior High Schools with available land. President Mahama explained that these schools will be supported to grow crops and raise livestock.

He stated that schools should use their land for agricultural purposes. They can grow vegetables for student meals and raise animals for meat. This effort will complement the school feeding programme and encourage students to consider agriculture as a career.

Several institutions have shown interest in this initiative already. The National Service Scheme plans to activate national service farms for servicemen engaged in agriculture. The Ghana Prison Service will also utilize prison farms for agricultural production.

Additionally, the National Youth Employment Agency is collaborating on this project. Faith-based organizations have expressed willingness to participate in agriculture and agri-processing.

The third major component revitalizes Ghana’s poultry industry through the Nkukor Kitin Kitin initiative. President Mahama highlighted the need to reduce poultry imports significantly.

Ghana currently imports nearly $400 million worth of chicken annually, which he called shameful. The Nkukor Kitin Kitin project supports the entire poultry value chain with various stakeholders involved.

This year, 50 anchor farmers will be registered to produce four million birds or 10,000 metric tonnes of chicken. A supplementary plan aims to support 55,000 households in raising 500 birds each year.

This effort could lead to over one million birds being raised while improving women's incomes and child nutrition across the country.

To support all aspects of the Feed Ghana Programme, thousands of agriculture professionals will be deployed.

President Mahama announced an MOU to deploy 5,000 agriculture graduates into public service roles as vacancies arise. This move aims to bridge gaps between research and practical farming methods.

He also mentioned additional projects under Feed Ghana like Grains and Legumes Development Project, Vegetable Development Project, and Livestock Development Project alongside poultry revitalization efforts. These initiatives aim to increase agricultural productivity while ensuring food self-sufficiency and sustainable employment for Ghanaians.