Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed that government under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ2.0) programme will improve the supply and digitalization of high-quality inputs to facilitate credit guarantees for aggregators to procure and improve seeds, fertilizers and pesticides to vegetable farmers in the immediate and short-term future.
According to him, the significant shortfall between demand and domestic production of vegetable requires urgent action, especially considering the impact of the recent supply disruptions from the Sahelian region.
He revealed that engagement of onion producers and importers prior to the 2024 budget reveal the importance of developing an onion index to track the production, distribution and consumption of the commodity.
Speaking during the presentation of the 2024 budget today, November 15, 2023, Mr Ofori-Atta stated with engagements with vegetable farmers, it emerged that in 2022, demand for onion was 314,000 metric tonnes, while the local production was 179,000 metric tonnes.
Additionally, he noted that the national demand for tomatoes in 2022 was estimated at 1.3 million metric tonnes, while local production stood at 468,000 metric tonnes. These, he stated, are two prominent vegetables in the Ghanaian households.
“PFJ 2.0 therefore seeks to improve the supply and digitalization of high-quality inputs to facilitate credit guarantees for aggregators to procure and improve seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and supply them on zero interests credit terms to vegetable farmers in the immediate and short-term future. Furthermore, the condition and capacity of existing warehouses will be improved to enhance the condition and capacity in storing bumper harvest and maintaining price stability.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
Improvement in Ghana’s agriculture sector
Elaborating on the Planting for Food and Jobs programme by government, Mr Ofori-Atta revealed that in seeking to change the course of the agricultural sector, the President in August 2023 with the new minister of agriculture, launched the Planting for Food and Jobs 2.0. By design, he underscored that the PFJ 2.0 places greater emphasis on value chain approaches and focuses on strengthening leakages between actors along eligible agricultural commodity value chain.
“The PFJ has special focus on poultry to address the heavy reliance on imports accordingly 15 anchor farmers and 500 out growers in five regions in the Ashanti, Greater Accra, Bono, Bono East and Easter regions will be selected to producers 65,000 metric tonnes of broilers in 2024.”
Ken Ofori-Atta
Moreover, Mr Ofori-Atta highlighted that the growth strategy of government also aims to boost fish production mostly through increase focus in oceanic and inland ponds.
He indicated that the goal is to support fishermen, fish farmers and fish processors in the country’s coastal regions.
“The interventions plan in this subsector is through direct support for production, distribution and storage of fish as well as producing and supplying over 110 million litres of premix fuel using gasoline. Part of PFJ 2 strategy is to support the private commercial agriculture under the economics enclave project.
Ken Ofori-Atta
Meanwhile, the finance minister disclosed that as part of its fiscal measures, has decided to waive import duties on Electric Vehicles (EVs) designated for public transportation for 8 years.
Also, he indicated that import duties would also be exempted for semi-knocked down and completely knocked down Electric vehicles brought into the country by registered EV assembly companies for the same 8-year period.
Furthermore, in a move to promote menstrual hygiene and affordability, the finance minister declared that all locally produced sanitary pads would now be zero-rated.
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