Upper West Regional Minister , Dr Hafiz Bin Salih,  has announced the government's plan to review one of it's flagship policies, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme (PFJ), to partner with  the private sector.

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Ghana's Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program is a flagship agricultural initiative introduced by the incumbent government in April 2017 to boost food production, create employment opportunities, and improve livelihoods in the country. As a result of the planned review, the government has temporarily halted its subsidies on fertilisers and other agricultural inputs until the review process is finalised.

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Dr Hafiz Bin Salih,made this revelation during the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council’s meeting in Wa with municipal and district chief executives, district coordinators, presiding members, heads of departments, institutions and agencies to discuss pertinent issues,especially the government’s interventions and their impact on the wellbeing of the people.

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Government’s role according to Dr Hafiz in phase two of the PFJ programme would be geared towards the private sector to deliver farm inputs at subsidised prices to farmers.

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Reports from the Regional Directorate of the Department of Food and Agriculture suggest that numerous farmers who cultivated large hectares  of farmland were unable to finish their planting due to the unpredictable rainfall pattern and this unfortunate  situation resulted in shortening the planting window for this year. Noting that “As a result, the land size cultivated this year had reduced.

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However, from close observation of the performance of the crops, food security would be assured”. The Upper West Regional Minister added that, over the last four years, a substantial number of agricultural extension officers were hired with the aim of enhancing the staffing conditions within the department.  These officers were subsequently dispatched to the fields to ensure that every farmer could access advisory services.

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The Regional Coordinating Council per Article 255 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, mandates the House to meet at least twice yearly to share ideas, advise on issues and take the right and appropriate decisions that would benefit the people. The various assemblies presented reports on infrastructural development, security and government’s social and economic interventions on the living conditions of the people in the communities.

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