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The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has handed over essential infrastructure projects to beneficiary communities across the country.
The ceremony, held at Tordzinu in the Volta Region, marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the Emergency Support to Rural Livelihoods and Food Systems Exposed to COVID-19 (ESRF) Project.
The project, initiated by the Government of Ghana in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has made significant contributions to the country's food security and agricultural sector.
At the ceremony, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong, said the ESRF project had implemented various interventions over the past three years.
He listed them to include the provision of personal protective equipment to 26,700 supply chain actors, fertilisers and improved seeds to 24,782 smallholder farmers, cash transfers to 5,000 vulnerable households, training for 1,000 smallholder farmers, and the provision of small-scale food processing equipment to 5,500 farmers.
Dr Acheampong also revealed that the project had constructed farm tracks, water harvesting facilities, drying platforms, and boreholes in various regions across the country.
“These projects are expected to provide market access to more than 5,500 residents in surrounding communities and serve as a source of potable water in most of these communities,” he added.
The minister thanked all stakeholders involved in the project's success and particularly commended the Country Director of IFAD for her guidance and cooperation during implementation.
“The project's managers have worked closely with beneficiary communities and individuals to ensure sustainability and ownership of the projects.
“The handover ceremony is a testament to the government's commitment to empowering smallholder farmers and improving food security in Ghana. The projects are expected to have a significant impact on the lives of beneficiaries and contribute to the overall growth of the agricultural sector,” he said
He was optimistic about the significant impact those interventions would have on the lives of smallholder farmers and beneficiary communities. "These projects not only equip them with tools for agricultural success but empower them to withstand challenges posed by COVID-19 and climate change.
For his part, the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, said the project was going to have a huge impact on the communities, especially farmers, saying, “Indeed, it is expected to protect livelihoods, incomes, and health of communities members.”
He said the vulnerability of smallholder farmers, due to the subsistence nature of their farming practices, could not be overemphasised. “These farmers all over the country are usually faced with unpredictable climate shocks posing direct challenges to their ability to secure food and income for their families,” Dr Letsa said.
The Country Director of IFAD, Lakshmi Moola, said the mandate of the organisation to support investments in smallholder farmers and the agriculture and rural development sectors, in alignment with Ghana’s vision for those sectors, had manifested 20 investments totalling US$1.075 billion, impacting 3.5 million households.
“We are extremely happy to be here today at the handover of key assets under the ESRF Project,” she said, adding that with collective efforts, we would continue to achieve the milestones towards increasing the productive capacity of smallholder farmers.
