The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has expressed its disappointment with the government for not giving enough attention to the agriculture sector during the recent mid-year budget review.

The PFAG believes that the vital issue of access to subsidised agricultural inputs was neglected in the budget, which is a critical concern for their members and smallholder farmers.

The association's national President, Wepia Addo Awal Adugwada, raised these concerns during a workshop organised by PFAG in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA).

He stressed the urgency of expediting the introduction of an enhanced version of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative, allowing farmers to access inputs on credit as the farming season begins.

While the government has plans to introduce this enhanced version, Mr. Adugwada expressed disappointment that it is still in the final stages and awaiting approval.

The delay in finalising the enhanced PFJ proposal is problematic as farmers need timely access to credit inputs to increase food production. Without sufficient funding, the size of their farms decreases, which poses a threat to food security in the country.

The purpose of this workshop was aligned with PFAG's mission to amplify the understanding of non-state actors regarding the CAADP process, the Biennial Review (BR) Reports, and the continuous initiatives underway across the continent and sub-region.

These efforts aim to further strengthen the network of advocates dedicated to advancing investment and dedication to small-holder agriculture.

The workshop also brought stakeholders up to speed on the current state of the BR process, Ghana's latest performance from the BR and the government's actions in achieving the commitments while providing an avenue for NSAs to develop a new strategy for more effective engagement to keep the government on track with the commitments of the CAADP/Malabo Declaration.

Addressing the event, MrAdugwada called on the Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, to address the cause of the delay and ensure a budgetary allocation for timely access to inputs.

Regarding the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative, Mr. Adugwada pointed out that farmers were initially pleased with the announcement. However, after the construction of dams, it became evident that they were not suitable for their intended purpose.

This was attributed to the lack of stakeholder engagement before the project began, leading to many dams running dry during the dry season and defeating their purpose.

Dr. Charles Nyaaba, the Executive Director of PFAG, urged all stakeholders in the agriculture sector, including traditional authorities who release lands for farming, to support smallholder farmers.

He emphasized that the PFJ initiative had placed a significant burden on the government and called on the private sector to contribute its support to help the government fulfill its mandate.

The PFAG is concerned about the lack of attention given to the agriculture sector in the recent budget review. They are urging the government to expedite the enhanced PFJ initiative to provide timely access to credit inputs for farmers, ensuring food security in the country.

Additionally, the need for proper stakeholder engagement in agricultural projects, such as the 1V1D initiative, is emphasised to ensure their effectiveness in supporting farmers and promoting sustainable agriculture.