The West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) is investing some US$150 million into agriculture with a development objective of reducing Ghana’s number of food-insecure people by 25 percent.
The initiative according to the FSRP, will provide 211,200 food system actors with access to agro- and hydro-meteorological information, enabling 240,000 producers to adopt climate-smart agriculture, nutrition, and gender-sensitive technologies.
The investment, which is a five-year initiative, is a collaborative effort led by the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) and funded by the World Bank. It is expected to enhance agricultural practices and address challenges hindering food production in the sub-region.
Data from the 2022 Annual Household Income and Expenditure Survey revealed that 49.1 percent of the Ghanaian population was food insecure in the first quarter of the year 2022. This represents 15.1 million of the 31 million population at the time.
Despite the growing food insecurity threats, Project Coordinator of the initiative, Mr. Osei Owusu-Agyemang said, the intervention is designed to empower vulnerable households, families, farmers, and communities to withstand uncertainties and shocks in food production and supply within the sub-region.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the FSRP will roll out a comprehensive strategy encompassing adaptive, innovative, and sustainable interventions.
“The project aims to put 4,850 hectares of land under Integrated Land Management (ILM) practices and result in a 10 percent increase in intra-regionally traded production in selected value chains such as rice and maize” Mr Owusu-Agyemang indicated.
The impact of the project will be felt across 50 districts spanning 10 regions, with a focus on three main interventions.
According to the FSRP, beneficiary areas in the southern and northern sectors include Greater Accra, Eastern, Volta, and Central Regions, constituting the Lower Volta Basin.
The Northern Sector, covers the Upper Volta Basin, includes Upper East, Northern, and North East Regions. The Middle Belt will see participation from Ashanti, Bono, and Bono East Regions.
The project is expected to particularly concentrate on key crops including maize, rice, poultry, soya, and tomatoes, aiming to boost productivity and create a more resilient and sustainable food system in Ghana.
Identifying issues such as floods, droughts, pests, and livestock diseases as impediments to food production, ECOWAS has taken the initiative to coordinate efforts among member nations.
The FSRP aims to strengthen food system risk management and increase preparedness against food insecurity in the participating countries.
Mr. Owusu-Agyemang also highlighted plans for the rehabilitation of key agricultural facilities. These include laboratories in institutions such as the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute at Bunsu, Veterinary Services at Dormaa Ahenkro and Accra, and the Crops Research Institute in Kumasi.
Additionally, other facilities slated for rehabilitation include the Grains and Legumes Board Laboratory in Kumasi, Wheta Irrigation Scheme in the Volta Region, Savannah Agriculture Research Institute, Tanoso Irrigation Scheme, Vea Irrigation Scheme in the Bongo District, and laboratory facilities at selected border posts.
The FSRP’s multifaceted approach not only addresses challenges in rice production but also emphasizes the importance of upgrading and modernizing key agricultural facilities.
Source: businesszone.news
