PFJ 2.0 offers lucrative farming opportunities as farmer registration begins
The Minister said the overall goal of the PFJ 2.0 programme is to transform and modernize agriculture in Ghana through the development of selected agricultural value chains with active private-sector participation.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, has announced the commencement of farmer registration on the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP), a sophisticated web-based system designed to streamline information dissemination and resource allocation across the agricultural value chain.
Dr. Acheampong emphasized that GhAAP will provide farmers and agribusiness stakeholders with crucial insights, inputs, and market access, revolutionizing coordination and transparency in the sector.
Speaking to the media on Monday, March 11, 2024, the Minister said under PFJ 2.0, the Ministry aims to shift from traditional input subsidies to a more efficient agricultural input credit system, intricately linked to structured market arrangements. Over a five-year period, the program will prioritize improving access to inputs, mechanization, extension services, and output markets to drive sustainable agricultural growth.
Highlighting the program’s strategic objectives, Dr. Acheampong outlined ambitious targets for enhancing self-sufficiency across key agricultural commodities.
According to him, by 2028, Ghana aims to achieve full self-sufficiency of 110.6%, a remarkable feat compared to the current under 5% self-sufficiency in poultry production.
“To participate in the PFJ 2.0 program, farmers or producers must meet specific requirements, including having access to land or a farm, capturing their profile at the district level, providing farm or land coordinates, being a Ghanaian citizen with a valid Ghana card, engaging in farming on prioritised commodity crops, and being a legally registered company or institution.” Dr. Bryan Acheampong said
The Minister for Food and Agriculture further explained that “Farmer registration for PFJ 2.0 will be conducted across all sixteen regions and 261 districts in Ghana. To facilitate this process, a mobile and web application platform, the Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP), has been developed. Additionally, Agricultural Extension Agents (AEAs) and other technical officers have been trained on how to use the platform and provided with tablets for data capturing.”
Dr. Acheampong reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring the success of PFJ 2.0, emphasizing its role in empowering farmers, boosting productivity, and fostering sustainable agricultural development. With a strategic focus on leveraging technology, private sector partnerships, and inclusive policies, Phase 2 of Planting for Food and Jobs promises to unlock the full potential of Ghana’s agricultural sector, paving the way for a prosperous future.
He emphasised that under PFJ 2.0, eleven commodities have been prioritized for the promotion and development of the agricultural sector.
The commodities include; Grains (maize, rice, soybean, sorghum), Vegetables (tomato, pepper, onion), Roots and tubers (cassava, yam); and plantain and Poultry (broilers).
The Minister said the overall goal of the PFJ 2.0 programme is to transform and modernize agriculture in Ghana through the development of selected agricultural value chains with active private-sector participation.
“I would like to emphasize that the PFJ 2.0 program is a carefully thought-through initiative designed to build on the successes of the initial program while addressing its limitations. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is committed to ensuring the successful implementation of this transformative approach to empower our farmers, enhance productivity, and foster sustainable agricultural development in Ghana.” Dr. Bryan Acheampong added
The PFJ 2.0 programme is anchored on four main principles; Value chains, Private sector focus, Market-driven and Inclusivity.
How to register on GhAAP
- Log on to www.GhAAP.com
- Click on ‘Become A Farmer’
- Select the type of farmer you are from the drop-down menu
- Follow the steps to enter your details to register
About GHANA AGRICULTURE & AGRIBUSINESS PLATFORM [GhAAP]
The Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Platform (GhAAP) is an integrated and interoperable web-based platform that provides agribusiness value chain actors with information, insights, inputs, agronomic practices, markets and other resources to enhance coordination, transparency, interaction, tracking, monitoring and reporting in real-time.
Farmer Registration module
The Farmer Registration of the GhAAP enables farmers to express interest in registering to benefit from the PFJ 2.0 programme. This is done by providing some requisite details of the farmer. Registration is completed by an Agriculture Extension Agent who will be assigned to the farmer for that purpose.
Inputs Dealers module
This module allows the input dealers to know the inventory of agro-inputs available in real time. It also records requests from aggregators for agro-inputs as well as details about deliveries made to such aggregators.
Traceability module
The traceability module is designed to improve food safety and quality-related issues for the safety of the final consumer. It enables inputs to be traced from the Input Supplier to the Master Aggregator to Aggregators in particular zones. The module also provides information on which farmers received particular agro-inputs. Secondly, the Traceability Module also enables recovered produce to be traced from the farmer and field level to the storage facility and onward to the Off-taker.
Statistics module
The Statistics Module provides commodity value chain actors with historical and current statistics regarding key agriculture indicators for planning and making evidence-based decisions for improved production and productivity and to reduce risks in the sector. The statistics provided here include rainfall quantity per agroecological zones, food production and demand levels, imports and exports of commodities, employment data in the agriculture sector, number of farmers in the country, etc.
Aggregator modules
The Aggregator Module enables Aggregators in assigned to particular zones to effectively coordinate their operations in the zones. It provides the Aggregator with information about the PFJ 2.0 registered farmers in the operational zones, the Agriculture Extension Agents assigned to the zones, mechanization service providers assigned to the zones as well as the details of the Input Supplier.
The module also enables the Aggregator to receive requests for particular inputs from farmers, communicate this to the Master Aggregator and record receipt of the inputs from the Master Aggregator.
Advancement of inputs to farmers is also recorded in this module by the Aggregator. Finally, recoveries in kind from farmers for the inputs and services advanced are also recorded in the model.
Warehouse/Collateral Management module
This module is designed to aid the effective management of stocks in the designated warehouses. It enables Warehouse/Collateral Managers to keep inventory of produce recovered and stored in the designated warehouses by Aggregators. The module also enables produce demanded for and purchased by off-takers to be recorded. This also supports the traceability of the produce in the warehouses.
Financial services and payments modules
This module provides information on the Financial Institutions which have signed up to support the initiative. It also provides information on the payment of actors in the PFJ 2.0 model including input suppliers, master aggregator, master aggregator, aggregators, mechanization and irrigation service providers, agriculture extension agents etc.
Off-taker/ Commodity trading module
The Off-taker/Commodity Trading Module is designed to provide structure to the marketing of produce under PFJ 2.0 The module enables produce Off-takers to know the produce available in the designated warehouses and the selling prices of the produce. It also enables Off-takers to demand for a specific quantities of produce, provide evidence of payment for the produce and pick up the right quantity of produce from the warehouses.
Source:myrepubliconline
