Government's Planting for Food and Jobs Phase 2 Program in Jeopardy in The Upper West Region

The Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Phase 2 program, launched by the government of Ghana to boost agricultural production and create jobs, may be facing a major setback in the Upper West Region. As at July 1, 2024, aggregators of the program have failed to supply agricultural inputs to over 40,000 farmers registered for the program in the region.

Speaking to Info Radio on Monday morning, the Upper West Regional Agricultural Extension Officer, Mr. Stephen K. Yelsung, expressed concerns that if the farmers are not supplied with the necessary inputs by July 15, 2024, they will be cut off from the program. He emphasized that the planting season is approaching its end in the region, and any delay will render the program ineffective.

The PFJ Phase 2 program aims to increase food production and create jobs by providing agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to smallholder farmers across the country. The program is a critical component of the government's efforts to address food insecurity and improve rural livelihoods.

However, farmers in the Upper West Region are growing increasingly anxious as they await the release of their inputs. Some farmers who spoke to Info Radio from various districts in the region called on the government to expedite action to enable the program aggregators to release the inputs on time.

"We are worried about our future as farmers if we don't receive our inputs soon," said Aisha Musah, a farmer from the Wa East district. "We need these inputs to plant our crops, but if they don't come on time, we will miss the planting season."

The delay in the supply of agricultural inputs has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the PFJ Phase 2 program in achieving its goals. The government had set a target of increasing food production and creating jobs under this program.

It remains unclear why aggregators have failed to meet their obligations under the program. The government is yet to issue a statement on the matter, but it is expected to address the issue urgently to prevent a complete collapse of the program in the Upper West Region.

The farmers are hoping that the government will take swift action to resolve the issue and ensure that they receive their inputs on time. Failure to do so could have serious consequences for food security and rural livelihoods in the region.