The Ghana Agricultural Sector Investment Programme (GASIP) implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) organised a two-day stakeholder’s workshop to deliberate on the possibilities of developing and sustaining Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs).
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) loan and the Adaptation for Small Holder Agriculture Programme (ASAP) grant were used to fund the project, which had the theme “Developing Profitable and Sustainable Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs) along Value Chains in Ghana.”
The event was aimed at drawing knowledge and experiences from smallholder farmers to help policy makers improve policy to profit the Agricultural sector.
Speaking at the programme, the National Programme Coordinator of GASIP, Mr Kluste Kudomor said the event was targeted at smallholder farmers as they produced 90 per cent of staple food and were the main actors in maintaining food security in the country.
“We want to know what went right in the FBO development process under the various programmes of MOFA and other institutions but most importantly what went wrong in developing and sustaining FBOs,” he noted.
Coordinator of FBO, Gabriel Owusu mentioned that the ministry had documented policy strategies which when followed would help strengthen the extension delivery system through the involvement of key stakeholders and address multiple issues of interest to farmers and strengthen FBO’s true value food chain development.
Mr Owusu added that the FBO strategies can support planting for food and jobs campaign by contracting farmers to produce and supply certified seed, produce quality produce to deliver to markers and processors and by effectively extending advisory services along the agriculture food chains.
Present at the event were representatives from the Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED), Statistics Research and Information Directorate (SRID), Directorate of Agricultural Extension Services (DAES), Policy Advisor, Registrar of cooperatives, regional and district directors of agriculture and representatives of FBO and value chain drivers.