USAID-supported Feed the Future Ghana Policy LINK has suggested that the Ghana Fertiliser Expansion Programme (GFEP), which expires in 2024, be amended to overcome bottlenecks in the domestic fertilizer market and increase agricultural output.
A viable agro-industrial economy, poverty reduction, agribusiness competitiveness, sustainable environmental management, and industrial expansion are all goals of operationalizing the GFEP, a five-year strategic framework.
Between 2018 and 2020, the nation will consume an average of roughly 400,000 metric tonnes (MT) of fertilizer annually, accounting for approximately 10.6% of the West African market. Imported fertilizers come in two forms: finished products or raw ingredients for blending. GoveImports now account for 70–80% of the country’s total food consumption as a result of government subsidies for agricultural crops and the cocoa industry.
For open market transactions with industrial plantations and other private farmers, however, little is imported.
Wekem Raymond Avatim, the Agriculture and Food Systems Lead at the Feed the Future Policy LINK, pointed out that the program is having trouble since private sector businesses are reluctant to partner with the initiative. A public-private partnership (PPP) investment of US$2 million is needed for the effort.
” There is a need to coordinate activities of the programme – including broad stakeholder consultations; updating the current GFEP strategic programme document, which expires in 2024; and evaluation of programme implementation and achievements against targets, to make it more attractive for private sector companies, “Avatim said.
