Government to Pilot 50 Farmer Service Centres in First Year of Feed Ghana Programme

The government is set to pilot 50 Farmer Service Centres across selected districts in the country as part of the first year of implementing its flagship Feed Ghana programme under the Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda. This initiative is aimed at modernising agriculture and improving food security.

Expanding Access to Agricultural Services through Farmer Service Centre

Mr. Peter Nuhu, Coordinator of the Farmer Service Centres, revealed the plan during a stakeholder engagement in Bolgatanga. He explained that the number of centres would expand in subsequent years to achieve full district coverage by 2028. The pilot will focus on districts with high agricultural activity, especially those identified through historical data on agricultural production.

In the Upper East Region, for example, the top agriculturally productive districts will be selected first to benefit from the pilot.

Focus on Key Agricultural Sectors

Launched in April this year in Techiman in the Bono East Region, the Feed Ghana programme is focused on modernising agriculture by targeting five key crops and livestock categories: grains and vegetables (maise, rice, soybean, sorghum), selected livestock (poultry, goats, pigs, cattle), and key tree crops (cashew, shea, cocoa).

Establishing One-Stop Hubs for Farmers

The Farmer Service Centres will act as one-stop hubs for smallholder farmers, providing access to mechanisation services, farm inputs, extension support, credit facilities, and guaranteed market linkages. These centres are designed to enhance productivity, create jobs, and tackle the issue of input smuggling through a cooperative-led system.

Empowering Smallholder Farmers

Mr. Nuhu emphasised that while large-scale farmers may not require cooperative affiliation due to their scale and ease of traceability, the primary focus of the Farmer Service Centres will be on supporting smallholder farmers. These farmers often lack the resources and structures needed to access mechanised services and input credit effectively.

The cooperative model is expected to address the issue of input smuggling that plagued previous initiatives, such as the Planting for Food and Jobs phase one. Under this model, inputs such as fertilisers and machinery will be deployed more efficiently, ensuring that they reach the intended beneficiaries.

Ensuring Accountability and Transparency

Mr Nuhu explained that, in the past, supporting individual farmers without a cooperative structure led to issues such as inputs being diverted to neighbouring countries like Burkina Faso. By using cooperatives, which are accountable for the inputs they receive, the programme aims to ensure better traceability and reduce input mismanagement.

For example, suppose a cooperative receives inputs for 40 acres of land. In that case, it will be responsible for ensuring that these inputs are used correctly. Any member who fails to pay will be held accountable by the cooperative, thereby ensuring that the group self-regulates.

Conclusion

The establishment of Farmer Service Centres is a crucial part of the Feed Ghana programme, aiming to improve agricultural productivity and address long-standing challenges, such as input smuggling and limited access to resources, for smallholder farmers. By focusing on cooperative models and providing comprehensive services, the initiative is poised to support sustainable agricultural development nationwide.