Kassena-Nankana Agric Department begins registering farmer groups to start Feed Ghana Programme
The initiative seeks to boost food production while creating employment opportunities in farming, agro-processing, and agribusiness value chains across the country.
The Municipal Directorate of Agriculture in the Kassena-Nankana Municipal Assembly has officially begun registering farmer groups as part of the government’s newly launched Feed Ghana programme.
The initiative seeks to boost food production while creating employment opportunities in farming, agro-processing, and agribusiness value chains across the country.
The Municipal Director of Agriculture, Elias Atinbire, made this known during an interview on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday July 1, explaining that the registration process is aimed at enrolling organized farmer groups who will then benefit from input support, training, and other government interventions under the programme.
“Our field officers are on the field registering groups, it is for all farmers there is no discrimination once you are a farmer, you are qualified, it is however not compulsory but if you want government support, you have to join a group so that you will be able to register.” Atinbire stated.
He emphasized that one of the key requirements for registration is the presentation of a valid Ghana Card by each group member, adding that proper identification is critical to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of resources.
“What qualifies you is a Ghana card, if you don’t have a Ghana card, unfortunately, you will not be able to be part,”
“Because these days, fraud and corruption is everywhere with the Ghana card, it cannot be duplicated, If we use just get a voter ID or health insurance card, people can just sit at one place and just put numbers together and come and see it’s a group.” He said.
Atinbire, however, expressed concern over the inadequate number of Agricultural Extension Officers in the municipality, which he said has slowed down the registration process and overall implementation of the programme.
“Staffing is a challenge my field officers are only six for the entire municipality, very extension officer is supposed to work with 500 farmers but for now, if you do the calculation, it’s about 5,000 farmers per officer and it’s extremely difficult for us to reach out to the farmers.” He lamented.
Despite the challenges, the department remains optimistic about the potential of the Feed Ghana programme to transform agriculture in the municipality, especially by empowering local farmers through improved access to resources, training, and markets.
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