The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, has disclosed that the sale of vehicles procured for District Agricultural Extension Officers under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme has negatively affected agricultural extension services across the country.
Appearing before Parliament’s Assurance Committee, the Minister said almost all the vehicles acquired to support extension officers had been auctioned before the end of 2024, leaving many officers without the needed means of transportation to effectively engage farmers.
According to Hon. Opoku, the situation has made it difficult for extension officers to travel to farming communities, monitor agricultural activities and provide farmers with the technical support needed to improve productivity.
He explained that extension officers remain a critical part of Ghana’s agricultural value chain, providing farmers with guidance on modern farming techniques, pest and disease management, climate-smart agriculture and the efficient application of farm inputs.
The Minister said the lack of reliable transport has affected the ability of officers to reach remote farming areas and deliver essential services required to support government’s agricultural initiatives.
To address the challenge, Hon. Opoku disclosed that the ministry has decided to procure motorbikes for agricultural extension officers to improve mobility and enhance service delivery at the community level.
He said the ministry had assessed the logistical gaps facing extension services and was implementing measures to restore the capacity of officers to effectively support farmers nationwide.
Hon. Opoku stressed that strengthening agricultural extension services is central to government’s efforts to increase food production, improve food security and reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported food.
The disclosure has triggered renewed discussions over the management and disposal of assets acquired under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme, with calls for further clarification on the circumstances surrounding the auction of the vehicles.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to providing agricultural officers with the necessary tools and resources to support farmers and drive increased productivity within the agriculture sector.
