The award prize was donated to support the National Best Female Farmer 2026. The 42nd National Farmers’ Day is slated on 4th December 2026 which would be held at Sunyani in the Bono Region.

During the presentation of the donation, Mrs. Edith Akosah Wheatland, who couples as the Former 2023 National Best Female Farmer said women play key role to safeguard food security.

She mentioned that when women are empowered it affects not only their families rather, the entire community and the national food systems.

“When women are supported in terms of finance, technology, market, women thrive and when you support women in agribusiness, you are supporting the family, the community and the future of the food systems”, she added.

She encouraged other past award winners to support the ministry to motivate farmers to produce enough to feed the country.

Receiving the donation, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku commended Madam Edith Akosah Wheatland, the CEO of Rockland Farms for such kind gesture to her fellow woman.

He announced that the donation received will go directly to the award winner and the donner thus, Rockland Farms would be duly acknowledged at the function.

He mentioned that without food, nothing can happen in nation, therefore, the ministry appreciates the confidence that the general public has reposed in them.

“I want to assure them that we will deliver on the mandate and ensure that within the shortest possible time Ghana attains food self-sufficiency”, he assured the public.

He called on stakeholders and the general public to contribute to the upcoming Farmers’ Day Celebration to honour our gallant farmers.

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He said the target would be supported by the implementation of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains Development (REWARD) Project, backed by a US$18.8 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, the Minister said rice had become Ghana’s second most important cereal after maize, with rising population, urbanisation and changing consumer preferences pushing demand ahead of domestic production.

According to him, milled rice production increased from about 650,000 tonnes to 900,000 tonnes in 2024 and 960,000 tonnes in 2025.

Despite the increase, Mr. Opoku said local production currently meets only about 56 percent of national demand, leaving approximately 44 percent to be supplied through imports.

He noted that Ghana spends between US$320 million and US$500 million annually on rice imports, stressing that the money could instead be retained within the local economy to benefit Ghanaian farmers, millers and traders.

The Minister described the REWARD Project as a major intervention under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme aimed at closing the production gap and reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported rice.

Under the project, government will develop 3,200 hectares of land for rice production in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone and support more than 20,000 smallholder farmers across selected districts.

The beneficiary areas include Tamale Metropolitan, Mion, Savelugu, East Mamprusi, West Gonja, Bawku West, Wa Municipal, Sissala East and Nandom.

The project will also provide farmers with quality seeds and appropriate mechanisation to increase yields from 3.5 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes per hectare while improving the quality of paddy produced.

Mr. Opoku said the intervention would provide a range of agricultural machinery, including rotary tillers, seed drills, mini crawler combine harvesters, rice transplanters and boom sprayers.

Government will also identify and equip 10 strategically located rice processing centres with complementary equipment, including mini GEM rice parboiling vessels.

Hermetic storage cocoons will be provided to reduce post-harvest losses, while farmers will be linked to markets and private-sector players to create jobs and improve incomes.

The Minister further disclosed that rice produced under the REWARD Project would help supply schools, prisons and other public institutions with quality locally produced rice.

On rice imports, Mr. Opoku said government was not seeking to ban imports but would introduce measures to ensure that imports contribute to strengthening domestic production.

He announced that import quotas would be linked to local investment, with importers expected to establish verifiable partnerships with local rice producers before import permits are granted.

“We are not banning imports, which would only hurt consumers. Instead, we are channelling the value of imports into local production and empowering our farmers,” he said.

The Minister also announced additional support from the Government of Japan through a ¥394 million (approximately US$2.49 million) grant to strengthen Ghana’s rice value chain.

Under the Japanese CARD Grant Aid Project on the Enhancement of Rice Seeds Production Capacity, Ghana is expected to receive combine harvesters, trucks for transporting harvesters and seeds, seed cleaning machines, maintenance tools, air blowers and dusters, high-pressure cleaners, transformers and a vehicle for monitoring and supervision.

The equipment is scheduled to arrive in November 2026, with training also planned for value-chain actors to improve quality and competitiveness.

Mr. Opoku urged farmers and other beneficiaries to make effective use of the equipment and interventions being provided, saying their proper utilisation would be critical to achieving sustainable food and nutrition security.

He disclosed that the Ministry, in consultation with the African Development Bank, plans to formally launch the REWARD Project in the first week of November 2026, ahead of the 2027 production season.

The Minister expressed confidence that the project would be implemented within record time and contribute significantly to transforming Ghana’s rice industry and reducing the country’s rice import bill.

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The project, being implemented under the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), is expected to add 175 hectares of irrigable land to Ghana’s agricultural capacity and benefit at least 220 farmers of the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative.

Speaking at the sod-cutting and site-possession ceremony, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, said the project forms part of government’s efforts to reduce farmers’ dependence on unreliable rainfall and increase food production throughout the year.

He said the Anunuso scheme is also aligned with the Feed Ghana Programme’s Irrigation for Wealth module, which seeks to improve water management and create conditions for farmers to cultivate their land more productively.

According to the Minister, the technical projections indicate that the project could increase rice yields from about 2.5 metric tonnes per hectare to 5 metric tonnes per hectare.

With two successful cropping cycles annually, he said the developed area could produce approximately 1,750 metric tonnes of paddy, translating into about 1,100 metric tonnes of milled rice each year.

Mr. Opoku said the project is also expected to create about 100 jobs during construction and approximately 2,500 employment opportunities across the rice value chain when fully operational.

He noted that the employment opportunities would span land preparation, farming, harvesting, milling, transportation, input supply and trading.

The Minister urged the Anunuso Rice Farmers’ Cooperative to work closely with agricultural extension officers and prospective buyers to ensure that production is guided by market demand.

He stressed the importance of quality production, timely harvesting, proper drying, storage and efficient milling to enable locally produced rice to compete effectively in the domestic market.

Mr. Opoku further called on the technical teams to provide farmers with the necessary extension support, including guidance on improved seeds, soil fertility, pest management and efficient water use.

He also appealed to traditional authorities and other stakeholders to continue consultations on the land agreements governing the project.

The Minister said the Ministry’s legal team was considering concerns raised by the traditional authorities regarding the draft agreement, stressing that adequate consultation would remain central to the process.

He directed the contractor, Nathawo Investment Properties and Investment Limited, to ensure quality workmanship and strict compliance with the approved specifications.

Mr. Opoku also urged the contractor and supervising teams to encourage local participation and respond promptly to concerns from surrounding communities.

He called on the District Assembly, traditional authorities and farmers to protect the water resources and catchment areas supporting the project against encroachment, pollution and erosion.

The Minister said the broader FSRP intervention targets the rehabilitation or development of 4,800 hectares, comprising 3,700 hectares across four irrigation systems and 1,100 hectares across four inland valley enclaves.

The irrigation schemes are Kpong, Tanoso, Vea and Weta, while the inland valley developments include Anunuso, Odaho/Odamu, Waamu/Kumi and Kawampe.

Mr. Opoku expressed appreciation to the traditional authorities for releasing land for the project and commended farmers in Brofoyedru, Anunuso, Nkwankwanua and Awaham for their cooperation.

He said the ultimate measure of the investment would be whether farmers could plan their production with greater certainty, increase their harvests and achieve sustainable improvements in their incomes.

He subsequently performed the sod-cutting to officially commence the development of the Anunuso Water Conservation Scheme.

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The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, says government is prioritising quality and accurate beneficiary data to ensure resources are effectively channelled to schoolchildren.

Speaking at an engagement with regional and district directors of education in the Ashanti and Western North regions, the Minister said reliable data is critical to planning, budgeting, and ensuring value for money.

“The management of data is important, and that is the only way we are going to have value for money. We want to ensure that we are speaking from the same book, on the same page,” she stated.

She said government’s approach goes beyond reporting figures on funding and beneficiaries, stressing the need to focus on the children who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the programme.

Dr Lartey said while government remains committed to expanding the programme, improving the quality of meals must come first.

According to her, the Ministry is advocating increased funding to enable caterers to provide better meals for beneficiaries.

“If you are looking at nourishment and you’re building into the future, then you want to ensure that the minds you are nourishing are well nourished,” she noted.

She explained that expansion would require clean and verifiable data, as well as financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance.

“If we are able to clean our data well, expansion shouldn’t be a challenge for the Secretariat or the Ministry of Finance to approve,” she said.

The Minister also disclosed that monitoring of the programme has been increased to ensure that measures introduced to improve quality produce the desired impact.

The National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, Hajia Fati Forgor, said the programme has expanded significantly since its introduction in 2005.

“The initiative started with 10 schools and 1,900 beneficiaries, but today we can say close to 70% of Ghana’s public schools, KG and primary, are currently benefiting from the programme. We are looking at 4,527,000 children benefiting,” she said.

Hajia Forgor said stronger collaboration with the Ghana Education Service is necessary because headteachers, who play a key role in the implementation of school feeding, report directly to education directors.

She said the engagement was therefore intended to strengthen coordination, clarify roles, and address challenges involving headteachers, caterers, and School Feeding coordinators.

“We are inviting you here for you to know us and for us to know you, and for you to appreciate the fact that we are willing to work closely with you to ensure that we improve Ghana’s School Feeding Programme to make the service a better one,” she added,

The engagement forms part of a nationwide initiative by the Ghana School Feeding Secretariat to deepen collaboration with the Ghana Education Service and improve monitoring, data management, and service delivery across schools.

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The irrigation project that would cost GHS 4.1 million cedis, is expected to be completed within 16 months.

The project is to provide reliable year-round water supply to farmers, who would be engaged in the implementation of the Food Systems Resilience Project ( FSRP) being implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Atwima Nwabiagya North District Assembly.

The FSRP is designed to improve agricultural production and water management, strengthen food security, create sustainable livelihood opportunities for farmers, and favorable conditions for rice cultivation in the area.

Minister announced that in 2026, the National Best Farmer would get GHS 1.2 million brand-new pick-up vehicle, a tractor and enjoy a free research trip to Italy, as motivation.

He said the government would continue to invest in agriculture through the provision of infrastructure and support for farmers to help increase productivity, food security, improved income generation, and sustainable livelihoods.

Mr Opoku, therefore, urged all citizens, particularly the youth, to take keen interest in agriculture and venture into it, to improve their incomes and contribute to the economic growth of the nation.

Mr Mba Zechariah Alenbilla, the District Chief Executive (DCE), commended the government and the Ministry for choosing the district for the project, saying it would open a new chapter for the residents to enjoy the benefits.

He pledged to ensure the smooth execution of the project and its successful implementation to help achieve the intended purpose for the people.

Nana Gyedu Kumanin IV, the Amakyebarehene, who chaired the function, commended the government for the initiative.

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The donation was presented by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, in Ahafo Ano North.

Ghana imports over USD400 million worth of tomatoes and paste annually, heavily driven by the December-July off-season deficit.

This donation aimed at enhancing vegetable production like tomatoes throughout the year, especially during the lean season, to curb dry-season importation of vegetables and retain and strengthen Ghana’s import balance sheet.

During the donation, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, extolled the youth for establishing the cooperative with a common goal to produce vegetables for the country to sustain food security.

According to the Minister, the vision of the President, John Dramani Mahama, is to make farmers more worthy than any other profession. To achieve this, he said, the government is providing favourable farming working conditions through the Feed Ghana Programme with the right agricultural tools and technology, and a market for the farm produce.

This government intervention includes the free donation of 2 portable irrigation machines and 500 bags of fertilizer. One of the portable irrigation machines could irrigate 5 acres of land; therefore, the 2 irrigation machines would irrigate 10 acres of land.

Explaining the uses of the machine, he said the machine can be assembled for use and disassembled after use. It could be moved to different farms for the same purposes.

“Resetting Ghana’s agriculture, the government, under the leadership of President Mahama, is procuring more of these portable irrigation machines. The government will subsidise the price so that every cooperative can afford to promote lean seasonal farming,” he added.

He mentioned that the government is making every effort to provide favourable conditions for farmers to produce vegetables, especially tomatoes during the lean season.

He urged the youth to focus on agriculture, especially during the dry season, because vegetable prices, especially for tomatoes, are high then.

He called on the youth and the elders of Pomaakrom to make good use of the irrigation machines and the fertilizers to enhance maximum production and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

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To motivate the youth to patronise the sector, the government is working towards an agricultural sector that is attractive to young individuals because it offers opportunities in technology, innovation, enterprise, and professional development.

To achieve this, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has distributed digital tools and agri-tech equipment to 5 agricultural colleges in Kumasi.

At the programme with the theme: Strengthening Agricultural Education for Digital Future, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, said the distribution of the equipment represents an investment in knowledge, skills, innovation and, most importantly, in the young men and women who will shape the future of Ghanaian agriculture.

“We are moving towards a future where farmers can assess soil conditions before applying nutrients; where weather information can inform decisions on planting and farm management; where soil moisture can be monitored to improve water-use efficiency and reduce losses; and where drones, sensors, digital platforms and data analytics become practical tools for increasing productivity,” Hon. Eric Opoku mentioned.

Leveraging technology to achieve food security, the Minister explained that the government is strengthening the capacity of the institutions, strengthening the skills of the graduates, strengthening agricultural extension and ultimately, strengthening the farmer and Ghana’s food system.

The five (5) agriculture colleges that are being positioned as important centres for practical learning in advanced agricultural technologies with digital tools and agri-tech equipment are the Kwadaso, Wenchi, Ejura, Damongo and Ohawu Agricultural Colleges.

The digital tools and agri-tech equipment that were received by these colleges include 60 moisture meters, 60 soil testers, 60 greenhouse environmental control learning kits, 60 IoT sensor education kits, weather station starter kits, 60 GPS devices, high-performance computers, business laptops and 15 mini drones.

Moreover, agricultural spraying simulation, drone flight simulation and agricultural data-processing software were added to the packages.

Underscoring the use of the tools and equipment, Hon. Eric Opoku said the items are teaching and learning tools that would help bridge the gap between agricultural theory and the practical technologies increasingly being used in modern farming.

“The programme is built on an existing programme of investment in these institutions and takes our agricultural colleges another step towards precision, digital and data-driven agriculture”, he added.

Explaining the worth of the interventions to Ghana’s food systems, he said the interventions are important because the future of Ghana’s agriculture will depend not only on the ability to produce more, but also on the ability to produce sustainably and build resilience against climate-related risks.

He urged the students to make good use of the tools and equipment to enhance skills delivery in the agriculture sector to improve the quality of food produced in the country.

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The meeting focused on deepening cooperation between the Ministry and traditional leaders, particularly in the dissemination of agricultural information and government interventions to farming communities.

The Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, called for closer collaboration between the Ministry and Traditional Authorities to ensure that farmers and communities receive timely and accurate information on agricultural programmes and opportunities.

He also urged the Ministry to prioritise maize production, noting the crop’s importance to the diet and livelihoods of the people of the Ga State.

The Ga Mantse assured the Minister of the continued support and cooperation of the Ga State and warmly welcomed him as a son of the soil.

Responding, Hon. Eric Opoku said the Ministry’s vision was to transform Ghanaian agriculture from subsistence farming into a profitable and attractive business capable of creating sustainable jobs, particularly for the youth.

He highlighted what he described as significant gains under the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, noting that Ghana’s maize production reached more than 4.6 million tonnes in 2025, compared with an estimated national demand of about 3.6 million tonnes.

The Minister said the government would continue to implement measures aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, improving food security and creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in the sector.

The courtesy call forms part of the Ministry’s broader engagement with Traditional Authorities and other stakeholders to strengthen partnerships in advancing Ghana’s agricultural development and food security.

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The office, which was commissioned by the Chief Executive Officer of TCDA, Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, together with the Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph A. Akwaboa, and the Chairman of the TCDA Board, Prof. William Oduro, is expected to bring the Authority’s services closer to farmers, processors, aggregators, traders and other stakeholders.

The establishment of the office forms part of TCDA’s broader decentralisation efforts to ensure that its regulatory, development and stakeholder engagement activities are delivered more efficiently at the regional level.

For the Bono Region, which is a major hub for cashew production, the office is expected to play a particularly important role in strengthening the organisation and regulation of the cashew value chain.

Speaking at the commissioning, Dr. Okrah said the regional presence would make it easier for stakeholders to access TCDA services while strengthening the Authority’s ability to monitor and support activities within the sector.

He said the office would facilitate the registration and licensing of actors, strengthen compliance and enforcement, improve traceability and data collection, and support public education and stakeholder sensitisation.

“Our regional officers will now effectively represent the Authority here in Bono, bringing TCDA’s presence, guidance and support directly to the doorstep of our farmers and processors.”

The Bono Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph A. Akwaboa, described the establishment of the office as an important development for the region’s agricultural sector.

He said bringing TCDA’s services closer to farmers and other value chain actors would contribute to improved productivity, quality assurance, value addition and market access.

He further pledged the support of the Regional Coordinating Council and urged stakeholders to work closely with TCDA to maximise the opportunities created by the new regional presence.

The Minister also encouraged farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to improve resilience and sustainability within the tree crops sector.

Dr. Okrah expressed appreciation to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for his leadership and continued support for TCDA, as well as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Bono Regional Coordinating Council, development partners and other stakeholders who contributed to the establishment of the office.

The commissioning marks another step in TCDA’s efforts to strengthen its regional footprint and ensure that farmers and other actors across Ghana’s tree crops value chain have easier access to the Authority’s services, guidance and regulatory support.

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The Minister made the announcement at the maiden Annual General Meeting (AGM) of NAFCO, where he highlighted the company’s improved food stock position and financial performance.

According to Hon. Eric Opoku, Ghana borrowed rice from ECOWAS in 2018 to support the School Feeding Programme.

He said improved management of NAFCO and increased procurement of food commodities had enabled the company to accumulate sufficient rice stocks to repay the obligation.

“Today, by the grace of God, and with prudent management of the company, we have been able to procure enough, more than enough, for us to pay back what we borrowed,” the Minister said.

He explained that the immediate release of the 50,000 bags would enable Ghana to settle its rice obligation to ECOWAS, adding that the country would no longer need to borrow rice.

The Minister disclosed that NAFCO’s current rice stock stands at 20,443 metric tonnes, describing the development as an indication of improved food availability and strengthened national food security.

Ghana records increased maize production

Hon. Eric Opoku also highlighted developments in Ghana’s maize production following the implementation of the Feed Ghana Programme.

He said that after one year of implementing the programme, Ghana had produced maize in excess of domestic demand.

According to the Minister, the national maize balance is estimated at 3.6 million tonnes, while Ghana produced 4.6 million tonnes of maize in 2025 alone.

He said the development demonstrated progress in efforts to strengthen domestic food production and reduce Ghana’s dependence on food imports.

NAFCO records GH¢91.7 million profit

The Minister further disclosed significant improvement in NAFCO’s financial performance.

According to the company’s 2025 audited accounts submitted to the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), NAFCO moved from a net loss of GH¢19 million in 2024 to a net profit of GH¢91.7 million in 2025.

The company’s gross profit margin also increased from 1.61 percent in 2024 to 13.96 percent in 2025.

Hon. Eric Opoku commended the Board and Management of NAFCO for the improvement in the company’s financial performance and urged them to sustain prudent management practices while ensuring the long-term viability of the company.

He stressed the importance of NAFCO’s role in managing Ghana’s strategic food reserves and supporting government’s efforts to strengthen food security.

The maiden Annual General Meeting provided an opportunity for the company to review its performance, assess its financial position and outline strategies to strengthen its operations and contribution to Ghana’s food security agenda.

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