MEET THE PRESS 2008
MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

Madam Chairperson, the Hon. Minister for Information and
National Orientation;
Colleague Ministers;
Distinguished Members of the Press;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

 It is a great pleasure to be part of this important occasion to present the policies and programmes of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
My presentation will be in three parts as follows:

• An overview of the agricultural sector
• A review of the agricultural sector in 2007
• Outlook for 2008

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1.0       Overview of the Agricultural Sector
         

• Generally, production of major agricultural produce has been on the increase since 2003.

Table1: Production of Selected Food Crops (‘000Mt)
              (2003-2007)       

Source: SRID, MoFA

• Agriculture’s contribution to GDP continues to be dominant despite the marginal drop to 35.8% in 2006.

Table 2:         Agric. Contribution to Gross Domestic Product
                                 

                       Source: GSS 

• Percent of economically active labour in agriculture has declined marginally from 57% in 2005 to 56% in 2006.
• However, the agricultural sector continues to be the dominant sector employing most of the economically active labour force in the Ghanaian economy. 

                     Table3:  Percent Economically Active
                                    Labour force in Agric.
                          

                              Source: GSS

In terms of sector growth, the agricultural sector has performed relatively well in the last 4 years, although there was a drop in 2006.

Table 4: Agricultural Sector Growth

                 Source: GSS

The growth in the sector has in recent years been propelled by the strong performance of the cocoa sub-sector.

Table5:   Cocoa Production

                        Source: COCOBOD, Accra

In recent years, the performance of particularly the foodcrop sub-sector has been good.                  

      
Table 6: Ghana’s Food Self Sufficiency Ratios    
    

     Source: SRID, MoFA

• From table 6, it is evident that the country is self-sufficient in most of her staple food items such as cassava, yam and plantain.
• The country is yet to achieve self sufficiency in rice, fish and meat.     

2.0   A REVIEW OF THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR IN 2007 

2.1       CROP IMPROVEMENT
Madam Chairperson, the Ministry under the Food Security objective continued to supply quality seeds and planting materials to farmers to boost increase in crop production.  Highlights of some achievement in the sub-sector are as follows:

Cereals and Legumes

• Under its cereal improvement programme, the Grains and Legumes Development Board (GLDB) produced foundation seeds for supply to certified seed growers to enable them produce certified seed for supply to farmers.  

Table 7: Foundation Seeds Production (Mt)-(2002-2007)

Source: Grains and Legume Development Board

Table 8:         Certified Seed Production (Mt)-(2002-2007)

Source   : PPRSD, MoFA

• These certified seeds have been cleaned and stored for use by farmers during the main crop season in 2008. 

Under the Nerica Rice Development Project (NRDP), a total of 20 metric tonnes of foundation seeds were harvested.

• Again, to ensure the supply of good quality seeds to farmers, 250 seed growers were trained at various stages of the production process using the farmer field school.

• About 530ha of valley bottom sites were developed for the production of 5,670 tonnes of paddy rice under the inland Valley Rice Development Project.

Root and Tubers

• Under the root and tuber improvement and marketing programme, 3 participatory varietals multiplication sites for cocoyam were established in Goaso, Juaso and Mampong.

• For Yam, Sweet potato, Cassava and Frafra potato, elite lines/cultivars were multiplied with farmer groups in order to increase the quantity of planting material for further testing.  These groups are in Mampong (Yam, Cassava and sweet-potato).  Fumesua (Yam), Ejura, Wenchi and Nyankpala (cassava).

• Fields have been established in Tono and Mampong towards the setting up of sweet potato storage trails.  Upper West and East trials will commerce in November 2007 using harvested tubers from the established fields.

2.2       IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT

Madam Chairperson, to reduce the adverse effect of climatic changes on food production, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) prepared a National Irrigation Policy, Strategy and Regulatory Measures to guide irrigation development in Ghana.

In the 2007 year the following activities were carried out:

• Under the Small Scale Irrigation Project, an area of 100ha has been developed and handed over to farmers for cropping while 2,365.5 ha. are still being developed 

• Twenty (20) tractor- mounted rigs have been imported to support groundwater abstraction for use in irrigation in all regions of the country.

• Nine (9) deteriorated and abandoned irrigation facilities have been rehabilitated to enhance the production of rice and vegetables. The rehabilitation has been completed and the installation of pumps to make the schemes operational will start at the end of March 2008.

• As a result of the rehabilitation, total cropped area (hectares) for the 9 schemes has increased from 922 in 2006 to 2,326 hectares. A total of 11,630 smallholders will benefit from the rehabilitation.

• The irrigation facilities are situated at;

Greater Accra Region                 -          Weija
Volta Region                                 -          Aveyime, Afife and Kpando Torkor
Ashanti Region                             -          Sata, Akumadan
Brong Ahafo                                 -          Tanoso  Subinja
       Northern Region                          -          Bontanga

• Water use efficiency of the irrigation facilities is expected to increase from the current level of 37% to 70% when the rehabilitated schemes are fully operational.

• Contracts totaling GH¢7,800,000 for the rehabilitation of the Tono Irrigation Project were awarded in 2007.

• After the rehabilitation, a total of 2440 hectares of irrigable land would be made available to crop rice, tomato, pepper and onions.

• Under the Joint Irrigation System Management (JISM) project, farmers have been trained to take up specific roles and responsibilities with regard to the management of irrigation schemes.

• This would lead to reduction in costs incurred by Government in the operation and maintenance of the schemes and improve their sustenance.

2.3              DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE

Madam Chairperson, the horticulture industry in Ghana has a great potential in terms of foreign exchange generation and employment creation. However, two critical issues militating against the growth of this industry are lack of cold chain facilities and access to the right varieties.

• As a result of the high demand of MD2 pineapple variety on the world market, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture facilitated the procurement of 1,000,000 plantlets of this variety to 20 nursery operators (farmers) for the production of 6,000,000 units of pineapple suckers for smallholders.

• The refurbishment of shed 9 at Tema Port into a modern fruit terminal was completed in 2007 and will be handed over to private operators. It has a capacity to hold about 2,040 mt of produce with an annual throughput of up to 300,000mt. The facility is fitted with all the necessary equipment to make it one of the modern Fruit Terminals in Africa.

• Also the designs for the construction of a Perishable Products Cargo Centre (PCC) at the Kotoka International Airport has been completed. This together with the tender specifications and other documents relating to the PCC have been submitted to the Millenium Development Authority (MDA) for consideration for funding.

• The Ministry has also supported the Ghana Standards Board (GSB) with equipment to establish an ultra modern Residue Analysis Laboratory.

• Again, under the Cashew Development Project, about 15,258 unproductive cashew trees were grafted with scions. The Ministry also facilitated the establishment of about 901.8ha. of new cashew farms. 

2.4       PLANT PROTECTION AND REGULATORY SERVICES

An Army worm infestation was discovered in Ejura Sekyedumasi in Ashanti Region and Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo Region but this was promptly brought under control.

To reduce the frequency of interception of agricultural export to foreign markets as well as ensuring compliance, total of 52 Wood Packaging Material manufacturers were trained and accredited with certificates that meet the International Standards for phytosanitary (ISPM) No, 15.

A total of 35,000 bioagents of terrestrius were produced and released in addition to about 805,000 bio-agents of typhrodromalus manihoti for the control of larger grain borer.

2.5   AGRICULTURAL MECHNIZATION

• Madam Chairperson, my Ministry procured 11,100 MT of pro cocoon for the storage of 222,000 bags (50kg) of maize.

• Eleven (11) locations have been selected for the establishment of Agricultural Mechanisation Centres to enhance farmers access to timely mechanized services including land preparation.

• Private companies to manage the centres have also been selected and to show MOFA’s commitment to this laudable programme, a number of agricultural machinery equipment including 55 tractors complete with accessories have been set aside for the programme.

• To enhance farmers’ access to mechanized services the following activities were undertaken;

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  • A total of 900 tractors, 21 power tillers and 39 water pumps were assembled and distributed to individual farmer groups and District Assemblies throughout the country.

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  • A total of 120 farmers (including 50 women) were trained in animal traction as trainer of trainers.

2.6   LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT

Madam Chairperson the livestock sub-sector is still contributing to the improvement of incomes and reduction of poverty of farm families in Ghana.

Animal Health

• The outbreak of Avian Influenza was the major animal health challenge in the year 2007. The outbreak occurred in 3 districts/municipalities in 3 regions namely Tema and Sunyani Municipal Assemblies and Ketu District. Eight (8) farms were directly affected and 19,582 birds destroyed.

• As a control measure 56,790 birds on 9 farms not affected by Avian Influenza were also destroyed. In addition a total of 193,903 eggs were destroyed. 

• The government has so far paid GH ¢160,000 as compensation to the affected farmers.

• Ghana is indeed on record for being the only African country that has so effectively and efficiently controlled the Avian Influenza outbreak effectively and rapidly. For this achievement, we are grateful to acknowledge the role played by our development partners

Animal production
On animal production, the Ministry supplied improved breeds of livestock to farmers and also trained farmers in good animal husbandry practices.

• Key services and activities included the supply of 339 pigs, 608sheep/goats and 59 cattle as breeding stock to farmers;

• Awareness creation on rangeland management , establishment of 139 acres of fodder bank to ensure the availability of fodder and production of stylosanthes seeds and training of 1721 ruminant farmers ( 1308 males and 413 females) on hay silage conservation and utilization of forage ; and in the use of Urea to treat crop residue (rice straw and maize stover) for use as feed in the dry season 

2.7       THE AGRICULTURAL SITUATION IN THE 3 NORTHERN REGIONS IN 2007

Madam Chairperson, please allow me to digress to make a brief comment on the agricultural situation in the 3 Northern regions in 2007.

• The weather conditions especially rainfall for the 2007 cropping year has not been stable in the three northern regions: Upper-West Northern and Upper East Regions.

• The rains started in March but were insufficient and unreliable for any meaningful agricultural activity. The rains continued in April and May with intermittent dry spells cumulating into a long period of drought from the middle of May to ending of July,  resulting in the wilting of early planted crops  and delay in agricultural activities.

• The crop sector was thus seriously affected.  Most crops reached permanent wilting point and never recovered.  The overall effect of the drought was the displacement of the farming calendar, which threatened food security in the three regions.

• The rains however resumed at the end of July throughout the three regions that intensified afterwards causing the submergence of crop fields and rendering cultural practices such as thinning, weeding and transplanting impossible for most farmers. This unfortunately also resulted in increased soil moisture resulting in serious flooding. The flooding also affected adversely crop and livestock production activities in the three northern regions.

Table 9          Estimated Crop Production Loss in the Upper-East Region

 Table 10        Estimated Crop Production Loss in the Northern Region

Table 11        Estimated Crop Production Loss in the Upper West Region

Table 12        Animal losses by categories in the Upper-East Region

Most roads linking the communities were washed off and farms too. Soil/farm erosions intensified as the rains rage on. The bridges on some roads and 39 irrigation dams and dugouts gave way. Similarly, homes/houses of local residents and houses for livestock, pigs, and small ruminants also collapsed under the heavy rains. Deaths of humans and livestock were reported in some districts, while several farm families were rendered homeless.

• As a result of the poor early harvest and also the expected shortfall in annual production of food crops in the three regions there was the urgent need to:  

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  1. Provide immediate food relief supplies to displaced families and especially those whose crops and livestock have been destroyed by the floods.

•  
  
  2. Utilize lands left by receding floods in the Upper East Region to grow short duration crops such as cowpea, watermelon, and okro.

•  
  
  3. Support dry season irrigated crop production in the three northern regions commencing this month – October 2007 to May 2008.                       

•  
  
  4. Provide input support for affected farmers for the 2008 production year.  

• Madam Chairperson, Distinguish guests, despite the food shortage in the northern sector, it is heartwarming to note that as a result of the favourable weather conditions in southern Ghana in 2007, all our staple foos except rice sorghum and millet showed appreciable increase in production countrywide.

• There is therefore enough food for every one in Ghana until the next harvest and the observed increase in the price of some food commodities, especially maize is as a result of speculations of shortages by farmers and traders.  

2.8       EXTENSION SERVICES

• Madam Chairperson, to enhance the application of science and technology in food and agricultural development 18,000 demonstration plots were established to show to farmers the effect of modern inputs such as fertilizer on production.

• The outputs of this activity has contributed to the storage of 900mt of maize as national strategic stock in Ejura, Sunyani and Wenchi as mentioned earlier.

2.9       AGRICULTURAL FINANCING

• Madam Chairperson, on agricultural financing the Ministry in collaboration with Agricultural Development Bank extended credit to a significant number of farmers under the national Livestock Development Project and Cashew Development Project. 

• A total sum of GH¢544,238.92 was disbursed as credit to farmer groups in production, storage, processing and marketing activities in project districts of these project.

3.0         OUTLOOK FOR 2008

Madam Chairperson, the Ministry will pursue its goal through the Second Food and Agriculture Sector Development Programme (FASDEP II) which seeks to achieve inter alia the following objectives:

• Food security and emergency preparedness
• Improved growth in incomes and stability
• Increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into domestic and international markets
• Sustainable management of land and environment
• Application of science and technology in food and agriculture development; and
• Enhanced institutional coordination.

The Ministry in the 2008 year and beyond plans to:

• Maintain self sufficiency in staple food production (maize, yam and cassava)
• Increase production of rice and cowpea by 50 per cent respectively by 2010;
• Conserve animal feed and seed as national strategic stocks;
• Increase population of small ruminants (sheep and goats) and rural poultry (including guinea fowls) by 50 per cent by 2010
• Increase production of tree crops (oil palm, citrus, mangoes and cashew) by 5,000 hectares each by 2010;
• Provide 66,400 youth farmers with entrepreneurial skills and farm plots by 2010;
• Develop and implement national agricultural youth programme by December 2008;
• Train farmers, processors and exporters in the export sector in export production, processing and marketing by 2010;

• Empower 30 per cent of Ghanaian farmers to receive extension information through extension demonstrations and the use of audio-visual aids by 2010.

Food Security

Madam Chairperson, under this objective the focus will be addressing food security issues through contingency planning, emergency preparedness including establishment of strategic stocks to address the negative effects of climatic change and natural disasters.

The Ministry will pursue the following interventions to achieve this objective:

• The Grains and Legumes Development Board (GLDB) will continue to provide improved seeds and planting materials to ensure increased food production.

• Again, about 500 ha of cassava planting materials will be established.  Furthermore, the RTIMP will multiply 50 ha of breeder seed and identify and train 5 private commercial seed growers and distributors to develop market based planting materials production systems.  The RTIMP will also support the distribution of certified planting materials in 59 districts.

Agricultural Mechanisation

The Agricultural Engineering Services Directorate will continue the promotion of sustainable water harvesting and efficient water management by the installation of 22 tractor mounted drill rings for underground water exploitation. Training will be provided for mechanics/technicians in ground water technology. 

The 11 tractor services centres in 11 strategic areas will be established to facilitate access to farm power machinery by those farmers who cannot afford their own machinery.

Madam Chairperson, as part of efforts to modernize agriculture in this country, the Ministry also plans to procure and distribute to farmers about 1000 tractors, and 500 power tillers this year.

Pest Management
The RTIMP will strengthen the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems by establishing an effective capacity for biological control of common pests and disease of Roots and Tubers (R&T).

Irrigation

• Madam Chairperson, under the new National Irrigation Policy, MOFA will improve the operational efficiency of existing and new irrigation schemes to contribute to food security objective. 

• This will be pursued by sensitizing and training 500 stakeholders in irrigation technology and providing marketing infrastructure such as drying floors, packing houses, farm tracks, among others, to facilitate production on irrigation schemes.
• The Ministry will also facilitate the utilization of 10,000 ha under both formal and informal irrigation.  This will be achieved by implementing the following activities:

• Training of 100 contractors in the construction and management of dams and dugouts

• Rehabilitating Tono Irrigation Scheme to put an area of 3,000 ha back into production

• Establishing about 5,000 ha farms using surface water extraction method along perennial rivers in the country;

• Completing the irrigation of 820 ha of farmland under the Small Farms Irrigation Development Project;

• Completing 1,200 ha under the Small Scale Irrigation Development Projec;

• Rehabilitating of Nakori Dam in the Upper West Region to put about 81 ha under irrigated crop production; and

• Sinking 5,000 boreholes in 5 regions in the country.

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  • Madam Chairperson, GIDA will continue to identify potential areas for irrigation and review existing studies for update of data and subsequent implementation through the review of feasibility studies for Accra Plains Irrigation Project.

•  
  
  • GIDA will conduct feasibility studies into surface water extraction irrigation to identify an area of 5,000 ha, review feasibility studies of Kamba Irrigation Project in the Upper West Region and conduct detailed designs for a net area of 1,500 ha.

•  
  
  • Furthermore, GIDA will create and update studies on culvert diversion in the Upper East and West Regions.

Strategic Stocks

• Madam Chairperson, in order to respond adequately to the food needs of victims of natural hazards and other calamities, the Ministry will use the pro-cocoon technology to store about 53,000 mt of maize as national strategic stock.

• In addition, warehouses, dryers and other facilities of the former Ghana Food Distribution Corporation will be rehabilitated for use in the national buffer stock programme.

Improved Growth in Incomes

• Madam Chairperson, the purpose of interventions for enhancing growth in incomes in the sector is to provide opportunities for diversification into cash crops and livestock, and for value addition on all commodities.

• Diversification will be pursued by the introduction of new commodities and creation of opportunities for value addition to primary commodities.

The planned interventions are as follows:

1          Tree Crop Development

Madam Chairperson, to extend further on the area under cashew, the Cashew Development Project will procure additional 4mt of improved cashew seed nuts from the Republic of Benin for distribution to farmers.

This will plant an additional 2,000 ha of cashew farms intercropped with food crops.  The project will also supervise canopy substitution of 20,000 unproductive cashew trees and improve the performance of poorly maintained farms.

The GLDB will again make available in 2008, 20,000 seedlings of citrus for the establishment of new plantations.

2          Livestock Sub-sector

Madam Chairperson, in livestock sector, the main focus is to improve the animal protein intake of the average Ghanaian through various services to be provided by the Animal Production and Veterinary Service Directorates as well as the Livestock Development Project.

The key services to be provided in 2008 include:

• Rehabilitating 6 breeding stations (Babile, Ejura, Nungua and Armhia, Pong-Tamale and Kintampo)
• Restocking breeding stations at Wjura and Kintampo with 50,000 sheep and goats for out breeders
• Supplying 2000 small ruminants farmers with 100,000 sheep and goats; and monitor the performance of participating breeders
• facilitating the establishment of 150 acres of pastures (stylosanthes fields) by livestock farmers
• Rehabilitating office blocks and existing quarantine stations at Paga, Zebilla, Mognori and Pusiga
• Constructing 20 dugouts and 10 boreholes for selected communities in the project districts
• Training of 7,000 livestock farmers in credit management and 20 livestock Specialist in meat processing
• Supporting 200 private sector operators with simple equipment to add value to livestock products through processing

• The Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) will provide health services by conducting TB and brucellosis screening of peri-urban dairy cattle and train 10 Veterinary Technicians in meat inspection.

• It will also train 3 Veterinarians in epidemiology, parasitology and entomology and continue to conduct active surveillance for Avian Influenza (Bird Flu).

• In addition, the VSD will produce 30 million doses of I2 vaccine for rural chicken, 400,000 doses of Antrax Spore vaccine and also train and equip 138 Veterinary Technicians as trainers of Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs).

Youth in Modern Agriculture Programme

Madam Chairperson, the main objective of the Youth in Modern Agriculture Programme is to provide gainful employment for the unemployed and underemployed youth, particularly those in the rural areas, so as to improve their living conditions and encourage them to stay in the rural areas instead of migrating to urban area.

• The Programme will support at least 66,400 unemployed youth in each district to cultivate a minimum of 2 hectares each of economic trees, intercropped with food crops under the block farming system by 2010. 
• Further, it will support at least 100 unemployed youth in each district to undertake dry season gardening by 2010 and to support at least 100 unemployed youth in each, except the forest ecological zone, to undertake rearing of animals using improved methods by 2010.

Agricultural Credit

Madam Chairperson, under the Inland Valley Development Project, a total credit of GH¢2.43 million (US$2.6 Million) will be disbursed to 360 beneficiary groups for production, processing and marketing activities. Similarly the Livestock Development Project will also disburse a total amount of GH ¢4.94 million to 3,258 farmers for similar activities.

Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project (EMQAP)

Madam Chairperson, MOFA aims to enhance Ghana’s comparative advantage and translate it into competitive advantage in producing the needed volumes and quality of commodities on a timely basis.  The capacity of semi-commercial smallholders and commercial farms will be enhanced to produce for the international and expanding domestic markets, including agro-industry.

• Under this Project, the Ministry will develop and validate standards for planting materials certification, carry out certification of nursery sites and distribute high quality seeds and other planting materials.  It will further print and distribute certification materials, construct a residue analysis laboratory for GSB, rehabilitate a total of 125 km of Feeder Roads and train 240 farmers on production technology with emphasis on good agriculture practices.

• In order to meet the challenges posed by the stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards being imposed to developed economies on our agricultural exports, the Seed Certification and Plant Quarantine Laws will be amended to comply with the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) 1997 standards, respectively.

• Madam Chairperson, to ensure that exports of fresh Ghanaian fruits and vegetables comply with Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards, the PPRSD of the Ministry will continue to carry out pesticide monitoring and surveillance of 340 trained pesticide monitoring and surveillance of 340 trained pesticide dealers.  It will also provide training for additional 200 licensed pesticide dealers and applicators.  This will ensure responsible handling and use of pesticides in the country.

• My Ministry will also conduct phytosanitary inspection at all the 42 inspection points to ensure pest free exports while at the same time inspecting agricultural imports to prevent the introduction and establishment of foreign pests.  Furthermore, the Ministry will intensify its inspection and certification activities to ensure that quality safe food and planting materials are available.

• Manuals on quality and safety of food and planting materials will also be developed.  The provision of prototype seed processing and drying equipment will be facilitated.  Field and laboratory diagnosis of diseases and pests will be carried out for farmers and importers.

• MOFA, through the PPRSD will continue to monitor the outbreak of major pests such as army worms and the spread and host range of the invasive fruit fly (bactrocera invadens) which was introduced into Ghana in 2004 and has been found to attack mango, citrus and cashew among other fruits.  This will be done by purchasing 2,500 pheromones and their traps for all outbreak zones and affected regions.

• Madam Chairperson, MOFA staff and farmers will be trained in the management of the fruit fly to reduce the pest population and its resultant yields and quality loss.  Strategic pesticides and equipment stocks will be purchased to control any incipient army work outbreak. About 15,000 litres of insecticides, 1000 spraying machines and 500 sets of personal protective clothing would be purchased

Sustainable Management of Land and Environment

• The Ministry will collaborate with the relevant agencies to ensure environmental compliance and capacity building of both farmers and MOFA staff on the maintenance of bio-security of farms.

Application of Science and Technology

• Agricultural extension agents will be trained to demonstrate best improved technologies in both crops and livestock production. Under this Programme a total of 60,000 farmers will be reached nation-wide.

Enhance Institutional Coordination

• MOFA will collaborate with the private sector and development partners through harmonization of efforts to achieve maximum result in growth and development

Table13: Expected Production of Selected Commodities (Mt) (20-2011)

Source: Derived by PPMED, MoFA from Baseline data from SRID, MoFA

Table 14: Poultry an Livestock Projection (million units)-(2008-2011)

Source (same as above)
     
Table 15:   AVERAGE YIELD OF SELECTED

CROPS (Mt/Ha)
 (Under Rainfall Conditions) Compared to Achievable Yield

Source: SRID, MoFA

Table 16: Foundation Seeds Production (Mt)-(2002-2006)

Source :Grains and Legume Development Board 

Table 17:       Foundation Seed Projections (Mt)- ( 2008-2010)

Source: Grains and Legume Development Board

Table 18:       Certified Seed Production (Mt)-(2002-2006)

Source   : PPRSD, MoFA

 Table 19:       Certified Seed Projections (Mt)-(2008-2011) 

Source: PPRSD, MoFA

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