The Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative, a key agricultural policy launched by the NPP government in 2017, has been deemed a failure by crop scientist Dr. Kwekuche Ackah of the University of Cape Coast. In response to comments made by former Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Duffuor that the initiative could have been better implemented, Dr. Ackah touched on several critical shortcomings of the programme, including poor planning, inadequate stakeholder engagement, and the politicization of the initiative.
Phase One of the PFJ programme aimed to boost food crop production, promote export planting, support rural development, and advance greenhouse technology, with the overarching goal of enhancing food security and creating jobs for Ghanaian youth. The government initially invested GH¢2.6 million in subsidies for the initiative. However, the programme faced significant challenges, such as delays in input supply, fertilizer smuggling, and ineffective management, which hindered its success.
Farmers initially benefited from a 50% subsidy on agricultural inputs, but by 2021, the subsidy had been reduced to 15% due to inefficiencies in the program and the government’s inability to recover outstanding payments from farmers. This reduction in support left many farmers unable to afford their inputs, forcing them to sell their produce on the open market instead of participating fully in the program.
Dr. Ackah also criticized the greenhouse projects under PFJ, which were designed to empower young entrepreneurs in agriculture. Each greenhouse cost approximately $30,000, a high price that, combined with limited market access, led to the abandonment of many projects, further undermining the initiative’s goals.
Although Phase Two of the PFJ introduced a credit-based system through aggregators, similar problems persist. Political favoritism has reportedly excluded many genuine farmers from accessing the program’s benefits, while ongoing delays in the supply of agricultural inputs continue to disrupt production schedules.
Dr. Ackah stressed the importance of non-partisan stakeholder engagement and more comprehensive planning for future agricultural initiatives. He recommended adopting low-cost greenhouse technologies, involving a broader range of stakeholders, and implementing stricter accountability measures to ensure the success of future programs.
“The PFJ initiative had immense potential, but poor execution turned it into a missed opportunity,” Dr. Ackah concluded.
