Resource information
The present Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP), 2011 is informed by the following vision: “a modernised agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty”.Chapter 2 provides a summary review of the performance of the agriculture sector, including trends in crop production and productivity, livestock and fish production, imports and exports of agricultural commodities, and nutrition levels. The section also discusses the constraints in the agricultural sector, as well as analysis of the potential and sources of growth.Chapter 3 presents the six Programmes corresponding to the strategic objectives of the Agricultural Policy (FASDEP II), namely: 1) Food security and emergency preparedness. This section lays down provisions relating to early warning system in view of climate change. 2) Increased growth in incomes. Components under this Programme are, inter alia: i) Promotion of cash crop, livestock and fish production for income in all ecological zones; ii) Development of new products; iii) Development of pilot value chains for one selected commodity in each agro-ecological zone; iv) Development of rural infrastructure; v) Support to urban and peri-urban agriculture. 3) Increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into domestic and international markets. Development issues under this Programme are as follows: i). Low levels of local market penetration by smallholder men and women farmers; ii) Low capitalization of traders (especially those who bulk produce at the local level); iii) Poor grading and standardization system; iv) High consumer preference for imported commodities that have local substitutes; v) Inadequate volumes with the required specifications and quality to supply the international markets. 4) Sustainable management of land and environment. Development issues are as follows: i) Weak policy environment for sustainable land management at the community level; ii) Low capacity at all levels for implementation of SLM policies as they affect agriculture; iii) Low adoption of SLM technologies at community level; iv) Most SLM activities in communities are of pilot nature; v) Weak collaboration of relevant agencies to ensure SLM mainstreaming. 5) Science and technology applied in food and agriculture development. This Programme has two components: i) Uptake of Technology along the Value Chain and Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture; ii) Agricultural Research Funding and Management of Agricultural Research Information. 6) Improved institutional coordination. There is a need for effective partnering, collaboration and coordination. Institutions and agencies within and outside MOFA need to partner and network to be able to successfully implement the Plan.It is suggested that these six Programmes are all inter-related. The food security and income growth programmes promote selected commodities. The programmes for access to markets, science and technology, environmental sustainability and institutional capacity, support value chain issues for the promotion of the commodities. Ongoing projects are considered along the six programme areas and will be reviewed further at component and activity levels to determine areas for adjustment, up scaling or gaps for new support.Programme 4 on Sustainable Management of Land and Environment focuses on environmental issues suggesting that in an agrarian economy, such as that of Ghana, Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is a prerequisite for an enhanced production, food security, incomes and livelihoods for its present and future generations and the maintenance of ecosystem integrity. However, land degradation has been, and continues to be, a major threat to the estimated 150,000km2 agricultural land, which is about 63% of the total land area of Ghana. Indeed land degradation has since the 1990s become a major developmental issue in terms of its impacts on poverty alleviation, food security and economic growth. The results framework and the cost evaluation and financing of the plan are presented in Chapters 4 and 5 respectively.Chapter 9 on Safeguard Measures emphasises that agriculture influences considerably the management of natural resources, including land, forest, water and genetic biodiversity. Land degradation through poor agricultural practices reduces land productivity and limits poverty reduction. An effective Policy must enhance the positive influences through carbon sequestration, contribution of tree cover for conservation and improved quality of soil, protection of watersheds, and enhancement of the beauty of natural landscapes. Against this background, there is the need to mainstream environmental issues in policies, plans, programmes and other strategies through the conduct of a strategic environmental assessment (SEA). This is aimed at addressing the impacts of these interventions at the earliest stage of development, to avoid the consequences at a later period. In view of this, a SEA was conducted on FASDEP II. The assessment focused on the four main areas of sustainability, i.e. natural resources, socio-cultural issues, economic issues and institutional issues.Gender balances is underlined in the whole document, from stakeholders to women working in agriculture: “Gender equity will be emphasised in all activities along the value chain to ensure that the disadvantaged, especially women and youth play a major role in all activities. Women in Agriculture Development (WIAD) will play a leading role in these initiatives.”It is envisaged that the Plan will be implemented through existing structures in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other stakeholder organizations and that the Policy Coordinating and Monitoring Unit of the Office of the President and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) will play key oversight roles during implementation. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) will play the lead role in coordinating partnerships at all levels and in the monitoring and evaluation of the Plan. (Chapter 7). In particular, four levels of implementation governance are proposed at the national level to ensure the smooth implementation of the METASIP. These are: a) Steering Committee; b) Policy Dialogue For a; c) A National Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (SAKSS); d) A Secretariat.The text consists of 12 Chapters as follows: Background and Context (1); Review of Agriculture Sector Performance (2); Description of Programmes and Justification for Priorities (3); Results Framework (4); Cost Evaluation and Financing Plan (5); Financial and Economic Analysis (6); Implementation Mechanism (7); Policy Implications (8); Safeguard Measures (9); Institutional Assessment (10); Monitoring and Evaluation (11); Risk Assessment (12).
Implemented by: National Nutrition Policy for Ghana 2013–2017. (2013)
Implemented by: National Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security Action Plan of Ghana (2016-2020). (2016)
Implements: Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II). (2007)
