Over 2.7 Million Bags of Fertiliser Distributed Under PFJ, But Concerns Remain

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has distributed over 2.7 million bags of fertiliser as part of the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ (PFJ) policy, launched under the previous administration, according to former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

During his final State of the Nation address on January 3, 2025, he highlighted the distribution of fertiliser and improved seedlings as key factors that contributed to increased crop yields and strengthened Ghana’s food security.

He further claimed that between 2017 and 2023, maize production rose by 110 percent, rice by 48 percent, and soybean by 150 percent.

Akufo-Addo also pointed to the establishment of 140 agricultural mechanisation centres and the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, which modernised farming practices and reduced reliance on rain-fed agriculture.

Contrary Data and Concerns Raised

However, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has been calling for a performance audit of the PFJ policy since 2019, citing concerns about the actual impact on farmers.

In 2022, stakeholders in the agriculture sector criticized the PFJ, claiming it wasted government funds due to the small price difference between subsidised fertiliser and its market value—only about GH¢10. Farmers argued that they could access higher quality inputs in the open market compared to the often substandard products supplied under the PFJ.

Dr. Charles Nyaaba, former Executive Director of PFAG, said the policy did not deliver the promised benefits to farmers, claiming that much of the fertiliser was hoarded for political gain rather than reaching the intended beneficiaries. “In the first phase of the policy, hoarding, smuggling, and corruption marred the PFJ programme, as distributors were contracted to supply substandard inputs without proper monitoring and quality control,” he explained.

Irrigation and Farming Challenges

While the former president claimed the PFJ contributed to modernising farming and reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture, data from the World Bank paints a different picture. The bank noted that only about three percent of Ghana’s cultivated land is effectively irrigated.

Despite having significant irrigation potential, with estimates ranging from 360,000 to 1.9 million hectares of irrigable land, most of the country’s irrigation infrastructure remains underutilised. Only 104 central pivot irrigation systems, each covering a minimum of 40 acres, are in operation, with 98 percent of these systems reported as non-functional.

The World Bank also highlighted that neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, and Nigeria are outperforming Ghana in irrigation, urging the government to prioritise irrigation development to elevate the country’s agricultural sector.

Impact of Climate Conditions

In addition to irrigation challenges, the Ghana Grains Council (GGC) reported that dry spells and drought conditions had negatively impacted 1.8 million hectares of agricultural land, leading to crop revenue losses of approximately GH¢22.2 billion between 2023 and 2024.

The Northern and Savannah Regions, key producers of maize, millet, sorghum, and rice, were especially hard-hit, with maize yields falling by 35 percent, rice production down by 25 percent, and millet and sorghum yields dropping by around 20 percent.

These challenges underline the need for a more effective agricultural strategy that not only addresses fertiliser distribution but also focuses on improving irrigation systems and supporting farmers in the face of climate-related challenges.