The Ministry for Monitoring and Evaluation fears government’s intended outcome for the Planting for Food and Jobs may stall owing to some challenges in the sector.
The Results Framework for High Priorities monitoring instrument has unearthed challenges to do with smuggling of fertilizers, inadequate storage of seeds among others.
The Planting for Food and Jobs five-year policy programme is to contribute to modernization of agriculture sector that will lead to structural transformation of national economy through food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty.
As such, the ministry of monitoring and evaluation under Government’s Results Framework for High Priorities from 2017-2020 have flagged some implementation challenges.
Deputy Minister for Monitoring and Evaluation, William Sabi speaking to the news team expressed worry over the challenges. He further explained that if the issues are not addressed accordingly, the expected outcomes may never be realized.
The Policy dialogue meeting which was organized by the CARITAS-GHANA hosted representatives from the finance ministry, civil society groups, agricultural ministry amongst others.
The sole essence of the 2-day policy dialogue is to assess the PFJ policy, land rights and how to ensure that the government commit to the SDG goal 2 and its principle of ENSURING NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND is relevant.
The Co-Chair and Executive Director of COLANDEF, Nana Ama Yirrah said land issues could hamper the well-intended programme if not addressed.
Executive Secretary of CARITAS-GHANA, Samuel Zan Akologo commended the inclusion of the Rearing for Food programme introduced under the PFJ. But he quickly added his disappointment in government for the lack of space for women and persons with disability in the policy.
The PFJ programme is structured around 5 pillars, Seed, Fertilizer, Extension Service officers, Marketing and E-Fertilizer.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the programme has proven viable and therefore intends to employ 500,000 farmers in 2018 under the PFJ.
Speaking at the London Business School’s Africa Summit, the President said he expected the number to double by 2020.
Meanwhile, patrons and farmers are yet to attest to this promise.
