The government plans to revive the “Operation Feed Yourself” initiative from 1972 to boost domestic food production and consumption, particularly for students. During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Food and Agriculture Minister Designate, Eric Opoku, announced the program would involve households, schools, and religious institutions.
Opoku highlighted the initiative would encourage every Ghanaian to own a home garden, while secondary schools would be required to establish farms. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture would collaborate with the Education Ministry to recruit labor to support schools in setting up their farms. This effort aims to reduce school feeding costs while improving the quantity and quality of meals provided to students.
Additionally, Opoku noted that the government would offer incentives to religious organizations involved in farming to increase production, which would be connected to processing companies and markets. He mentioned the involvement of religious groups like the Saviour, Pentecost, and Kristo Asafo churches in farming and encouraged others to follow suit.
Opoku emphasized the importance of taking advantage of Ghana’s fertile land to grow essential crops, not only for local consumption but also for export. He also outlined other government efforts to make agriculture more attractive, including providing farmers with extension officers, creating markets for their produce, and establishing mini processing centers near farms.
