The government plans to deploy 5,000 graduates from various agricultural and veterinary institutions nationwide to assist farmers in enhancing productivity and embracing modern farming practices.
Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, indicated that this initiative is part of the government’s Feed Ghana program, aimed at modernizing agriculture and bridging the divide between research and practical farming applications.
In an interview, the Minister remarked, “We are mobilizing our extension officers, and as we announced last Saturday, we are integrating 5,000 graduates from agricultural and veterinary colleges—many of whom have been unemployed since 2015. We aim to involve all of them in the Feed Ghana initiative.”
He elaborated that these graduates will be assigned to farms throughout the country to assist farmers in implementing enhanced, research-driven agricultural methods.
“Our goal is to narrow the gap between agricultural research and the actual practices on farms. These graduates will be instrumental in introducing modern farming techniques to local farmers,” he stated.
Furthermore, the Minister disclosed that Ghana has received 300 tonnes of rice seeds from the Korean government, which will be distributed to farmers to enhance local rice production.
“We are providing high-quality rice and maize seeds that have been certified as ideal for our soil. The 300 tonnes of rice seeds are a donation from KOPIA—a Korean agricultural research agency operating in Ghana. Distribution has commenced in the southern regions, where the farming season is currently active. We are also preparing to supply the northern regions when their season begins in May,” he added.
