Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku has disclosed major interventions under the government’s Feed Ghana programme aimed at reviving Ghana’s agriculture sector, with a particular focus on irrigation and farmer support.
Speaking in an interview on Citi FM, Mr Opoku revealed that the government is establishing regional agricultural service centres equipped with modern tools and resources to assist farmers across the country.
“In the centres, we are sending tractors, combined harvesters, improved seeds, fertilisers, extension officers, and water pumping machines,” Mr Opoku explained.
“Even if farmers don’t have money, the centres will provide services, and farmers can repay after harvest.”
He noted that the government is committed to ensuring that no farmer is left behind due to lack of access to capital or tools.
In addition to the centres, Mr Opoku shed light on the state of Ghana’s irrigation systems, describing it as a major concern that requires immediate attention.
“We have taken inventory of all irrigation infrastructure in the country, and as we speak, all our irrigation infrastructure are either non-functional or operating under capacity, with some even doing 10 percent of installed capacity,” he said.
According to him, the underutilisation and breakdown of irrigation systems have hampered the country’s ability to produce food sustainably, particularly during dry seasons.
Touching on the broader vision behind the Feed Ghana initiative, Mr Opoku highlighted the importance of strong leadership in making agricultural reforms a reality.
“It takes leadership to rally people behind strategies to make them happen at all cost. If leadership decides not to be part of implementation, certainly you won’t get results,” he noted.
