REGIONAL & GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY ARCHITECTURE GHANA`S INITIATIVES PRESENTATION BY: ASANTE-KROBEA EMMANUEL DIRECTOR OF CROPS SERVICES MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE – GHANA MAIN FEATURES OF GHANA`S AGRICULTURE • • • • • • Typifies SSA agricultural setting It’s the largest sector of the Ghanaian economy Contributes 34% GDP Employs about 56.2% about 13million people. Contributes about 35% of foreign exchange. The sector comprises food and industrial crops(59%), cocoa(14%), L`stock(5%), Fisheries(11%) & Forestry(11%). • Smallholders-:0.5-2Ha produce 80% Total output Challenges to Agric. Production Agriculture in Ghana(SSA) is characterized by low Productivity as a result of the following: • Reliance on rain-fed agriculture, • Low level and low performing irrigation schemes in the face of climate change, • Land degradation and Tenure Challenges • High On-Farm postharvest losses coupled with Inadequate Postharvest Storage infrastructure • Low level and ineffective agricultural finance, • Inadequate extension services as a result of several structural and institutional challenges, Challenges Cont… • Inadequate markets and processing facilities, • Low performing indigenous breeds of livestock and poor husbandry practices, • Competition from imports • Inappropriate management of livestock products • Overfishing of natural water bodies coupled with undeveloped fish value chains and inadequate skills in aquaculture. • Weak response of Research to current challenges • Under-developed feeder road network POLICY DIRECTION LONG TERM FOOOD AND AGRICULTURAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY(FASDEP) MEDIUM TERM (5 years)-2011-2015 MEDIUM TERM AGRIC. SECTOR INVESTMENT POLICY(METASIP) Consistent with CCADP to achieve the MDGs SOME INTERVENTIONS TO ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY INFRASTRUCTURE Provision of Irrigation Schemes • Rehabilitations of existing Schemes • Developing New Schemes • Provision of Pumps(subsidized) • Exploration of Underground Water INFRASTRUCTURE (contd..) Provision of Postharvest Storage infrastructure • Provision of Appropriate Machinery • On-farm storage structures (e.g. Narrow Cribs) • Rehabilitation of Bulk Silos • Introduction on other storage Technologies Provision of Markets • National Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) INFRASTRUCTURE (contd..) Development of Road Networks • Various Government Budget Funded Initiatives and Donor/Bilateral Projects LAND TENURE ISSUES • Land Policy consists of a comprehensive set of proposals for improving access to land, ensuring security of tenure and protection of land rights, and ensuring planned land use (LAP). • Policy strategies currently in place are the establishment of land banks to enhance access, enforcing title registration to ensure security, and development and establishment of land use plans at the district, regional and national levels. PROVISION OF SERVICES • Extension Services • Agricultural Mechanization Services (AMSEC- 170) • Market Information Services (Radio, TV, Mobile phone etc) • Development of Value Chains PROVISION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES • Micro Credit Schemes (Projects, ADIF, OVCF) • Input Credit Support Schemes (Block Farms and Youth in Agriculture) • Price Support Schemes(Fertilizer subsidy) RESPONSIVE RESEARCH • Support to Research Development – Planting Material – Breed Improvement – Food Processing and Preservation CONDUCIVE POLICY ENVIRONMENT • Responsible and responsive regulatory frameworks(eg Bio-safety regulations etc) • Conducive non-discriminatory Trade, Price & Subsidies Policies • Public Security and the Rule of Law • Gender Equity RESULTS OBTAINED • Ghana has made great strides in achieving National Food Security and Agricultural Development • These achievements attest to the need for sustained prioritization and increased investment. • The progress made by Ghana from 1985 to date have been endorsed by the international community through a number of awards, key amongst which are; RESULTS OBTAINED… – The Hunger Project’s “1993 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger”; – “FAO’s Agricola Medal 2000” for outstanding efforts in the promotion of sustainable food production and the eradication of poverty; and – “2011 World Food Prize” awarded jointly to Ghana and Brazil for food security and poverty reduction. • Underpinning these international recognitions is the acknowledged role of the smallholder farmer and women in food production, processing, family nutrition and ultimately Food Security. These Actors, should be our Focus of Investment. CONCLUSION • Ghana is Committed to Continue Investing in Agriculture • Harnessing all Resources and Instituting Measures to Utilize its Oil Revenue to fund Agriculture and Sustain Food and Nutrition Security • Africa can attain Food security ONLY if we put our MINDS to it and COMMIT ADEQUATE RESOURCES to the Key Actors in the FOOD PRODUCTION CHAIN and Ensuring Sound POLITICAL STABILITY in the Region THANK YOU