Ghana will be self-sufficient in food production in next 5 years – Agric Minister

Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Ache­ampong, has stated that Ghana will soon have the capacity to produce food on a larger scale in the next five years.

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Speaking at the official opening of the National Farmers’ Day exhi­bition dubed “Agrifest- 2023” in Accra yesterday, Dr Bryan Ache­ampong said the government had set the five-year target to become self-sufficient in food production through the implementation of the Phase Two of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme.

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The PFJ phase Two, launched in October by the President, aims to increase agricultural productiv­ity, create jobs, and reduce food imports.

The institution of National Farmers’ Day is therefore recognis­ing agriculture as a major priority sector in the nation’s development agenda.

The event is the biggest statu­tory obligation that provides the platform to celebrate Ghanaian farmers and fishers for their con­tribution to the local and national economy.

These interventions, he said, were also strategic and have proven to be the main drivers for improving the productivity and incomes of food producers.

Given the current state of agriculture in Ghana, he said, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture reviewed its strategy to implement the Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II (PFJ 2.0) to build on the successes of the initial/first PFJ campaign.