Minister Eric Opoku Launches “Feed Ghana Programme” to Boost Agriculture and Food Security
On April 3, 2025, Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, officially introduced the “Feed Ghana Programme” during a public briefing held at the Minister’s Conference Room. This groundbreaking initiative is set to play a transformative role in revitalizing the agricultural sector and strengthening the country’s food security and economic resilience.
In his address, Minister Opoku emphasized agriculture’s central role in Ghana’s development, highlighting the country’s heavy reliance on food imports—which exceed $2 billion annually. He noted that poultry imports alone account for about $300 million. This overdependence on foreign food sources, he explained, exposes Ghana to international price fluctuations and contributes significantly to food inflation, putting economic pressure on many households.
Despite Ghana’s abundant agricultural potential, the Minister acknowledged that smallholder farmers face numerous challenges, including low productivity, poor infrastructure, limited access to finance, and insufficient mechanization. He also cited high post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities, poor road networks, and weak market integration. To address these issues, the Feed Ghana Programme will be implemented as part of the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which will be officially launched by former President John Dramani Mahama on April 12, 2025, at the Methodist School Park in Techiman, Bono East Region.
The Feed Ghana Programme aims to boost domestic food production, reduce dependence on imports, and create sustainable employment. Key components include the establishment of Farmer Service Centres, support for grain and legume cultivation, and the introduction of modern technologies such as greenhouse farming and controlled environment agriculture.
The Minister also revealed plans to strengthen institutional farming by collaborating with national institutions and faith-based organizations. Through a “farm-to-table” initiative, the programme will help rejuvenate the poultry industry. Additional focus areas include livestock production, industrial crop farming, and the development of the oil palm sector to meet domestic demand.
Minister Opoku further announced substantial investments in agricultural infrastructure, which he said would enhance national food security, increase export potential, generate employment, and drive long-term economic growth.
