By Nelson Ayivor
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is embarking on a significant strategic shift, centering its efforts on feeding Ghana’s local processing industry while targeting export markets.
Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo affirmed that the government’s new direction is clear and deliberate, aimed at transforming the agricultural sector into a more structured, value-driven engine of economic growth.
The national strategy, encapsulated within the “Feed Ghana Programme” launched in Techiman last April, prioritizes value addition as the crucial step to addressing decades of challenges, particularly the severe problem of post-harvest losses.
Dumelo explained how the theme driving the ministry’s work – and the theme selected for this year’s National Farmers’ Day reflects this urgent national vision of industry-led growth.
“Well, the theme for this year’s Farmers’ Day was selected because, basically, we launched the Feed Ghana Programme this April in Techiman. The Programme encompasses everything that we want to do as a country, in terms of agriculture.”
The Deputy Minister outlined the ministry’s simple but urgent order of action for agricultural produce, positioning industry at the heart of the national supply chain: “feeding ourselves, feeding the industry, exporting the rest.”
Dumelo emphasized that this sequential approach of ensuring national food security, powering local factories, and exporting after domestic needs and value addition are met, represents a bold shift, replacing the previous focus on direct raw exports with a structured system designed to maximize domestic utility and economic gain.
Value Addition; The Critical Role of Industry:
According to the Deputy Minister, the middle tier – feeding the industry – is the most critical component of the entire agenda if Ghana hopes to achieve stronger and more sustainable gains for its farmers and the economy.
“Feeding the industry is also very critical, because one, we need to add value to whatever it is that we produce,” he stressed.
This focus on value addition is not just about profit; it is a central strategy for preserving produce and protecting farmers’ investments. The process of converting raw materials into finished or semi-finished goods is seen as the most effective countermeasure against the chronic problem of waste.
“Now, adding value to whatever it is we produce would reduce post-harvest losses, which we are trying very hard to tackle,” he confirmed.
The ministry is committed to ensuring that food does not simply reach the open market for quick sale but is channeled efficiently to power factories, reduce waste, and, crucially, strengthen the entire value chain for long-term stability.
Dumelo linked the urgency of this new direction directly to recent market events, referencing a recent “glut issue” which saw an over-abundance of food produced in the market. While acknowledging the presence of food abundance, the Deputy Minister stressed that this glut should not be allowed to lead to post-harvest losses, but rather must push the country toward greater processing capacity.
“And so now the main focus is processing and feeding the industry and then exporting the rest,” he emphasized, framing processing as the definitive next step following the success in production.
For the Deputy Minister, the transition from surplus to structured industrial input is clear. The Feed Ghana Programme aims to ensure that the sector moves seamlessly from achieving high yields to industrial processing, protecting farmers from the financial ruin often associated with market oversupply and spoilage.
Dumelo concluded with confidence, noting that the work is moving in the right direction. “And so I think everything is on course.” The new strategy is designed to put value first and waste last, ushering in an industry-led agricultural transformation.