The United States government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations’ World Food Programme, is embarking on a one-year programme to provide vital support to farmers during the lean season in Ghana.

Valued at $7 million, the newly launched Farmer Support Activity aims to bolster food security.

The Farmer Support Activity looks to cushion and build the capacity of farmers especially those in the northern parts of Ghana. A total of 17,000 farming households in 17 districts in the Northern, North-East, Upper East and Upper West regions will receive 3,500 each.

Mission Director for USAID, Kimberly Rosen, said small-scale farmers will directly receive the cash transfers into their mobile money accounts to ensure accessibility and convenience.

This method, he added, allows them to easily access those funds in an efficient manner:.

“The cash transfer provided through this programme serves as a flexible tool that farmers can utilise to address their urgent needs. This flexibility empowers farmers to invest in their farms and purchase inputs, cover labour costs or attend to other important requirements. It is important to note that this programme is part of a broader commitment to support Ghana’s agricultural sector.”

Through a multi-sectoral initiative that includes the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the National Identification Authority and MTN, the World Food Programme has identified, targeted and registered vulnerable smallholder farmers. According to WFP Representative and Country Director, Barbara Clemens, this is to ensure that these farmers do not compromise on quantity and quality.

“Going into this lean season, this project seeks to identify and support them, so that they’re not consuming their inputs or making some negative coping choices like reducing the size of land for cultivation or buying less food for their households. We’re going to make sure that we’re there when the assistance is needed and is given to the right person so that they can increase their productivity,” she said.

Deputy Agric Minister, Yaw Frimpong Addo urged the farmers to be prudent with the investment.

“There are several households that couldn’t benefit from this programme, so I will call the beneficiaries, the lucky ones. You need to prove to the donors that the money is used for the right things. The team on this project have strong financial backgrounds and will monitor so farmers need to be accountable,” he stated

The Farmer Support Activity will run till March 2024.