Agriculture in Ghana is recognized as the mainstay of the economy with a greater impact on poverty reduction than other sectors. It is also critical for rural development and associated cultural values, social stabilization, environmental sustainability and buffer during economic shocks.
VISION
The vision of the Agricultural department in the Ga Central Municipal is to position the municipality as a distinct municipality that provides diverse economic opportunities for the total development of the people through agriculture.
MANDATE
The Department of Agriculture is mandated to implement policies and programs of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture targeted at sustainable growth and development of Agriculture sector in line with national goals.
CORE FUNCTIONS
1. Coordinating and implementing governmental agricultural projects
2. Monitoring and evaluation of the projects and programs instituted to assess their progress
3. Dissemination of improved agricultural technologies through extension .
4. Improve growth in incomes.
5. Enhancing food security within the municipality.
6. Addition of value to agricultural produce thus, processing and preservation.
7. Management of resources in farms, homes, processing sites.
PROJECTS
PFJ (Planting For foods And Jobs) This a five-year contract which is made to increase the production of crops in Ghana and decrease the importation of food. This project as well is meant to provide job opportunities for the youth of the country.
AGRIC DEPARTMENT WORKPLAN FOR 2021
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION |
DEVELOPMENT DIMENDION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK |
SOURCE OF FUNDING |
DATE STARTED |
EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION |
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES |
Carry out home and farm visits |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
2976 |
Monitor activity implementation to access performance & impact |
Governance corruption & public accountability |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
250 |
Train 4 women groups on food utilization,antiseptic, hand sanitizer, shower gel and floor cleaner/fruit processing |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
200 |
Organize RELC planning session |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
July |
Sept |
28 |
Establish at least 2 demonstration per AEA |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
8 |
TEDMAG training on FBO formation |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
July |
Sept |
22 |
Organize quarterly management, performance review meeting |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
40 |
Supervise and monitor implementation of biosecurity measures in the municipality |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
160 |
Train staff on result oriented report |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
July |
Sept |
18 |
Train crop farmers on urban& peri-urban agriculture |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
April |
June |
26 |
Train farmers on care and management of rabbit |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
April |
June |
31 |
Study tour for staff |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
April |
June |
12 |
Train FBOs on conflict management |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
April |
June |
28 |
Organize Farmers Day |
Social &economic development |
Assembly |
December |
December |
350 |
1. Provision of Extension service to farmers enhances productivity as it allows for more technologies to be applied in production hence high yield per limited land size. The department therefore engages Agric Extension Agents (AEA’s) in home and farm visits to help train and educate farmers on Good Agricultural Practices. Below are pictures showing Agric extension agent demonstrating some agricultural technologies and educating farmers on good agricultural practices.
Pic. 1.1 showing AEA demonstrating how to spray Pic. 1.2 showing staff on home and farm visits
2. The department in collaboration with the Ga Central Municipal Assembly established a Technology Village to train farmers on various Agriculture enterprises including snail rearing, container farming etc.
Pic. 2.3 shows AEA’s at demonstration sight Pic. 2.4 shows the container farm at the technology village
Pic.2.5shows the display of container farm Pic. 2.6 shows the established snail farm at the established at the technology village technology village
Pic.3.1 shows women group at a training session Pic.3.2 shows women group making fruit juice
Pic.3.3shows women group making fruit juice Pic. 3.4 shows participants in training on floor cleaner
Pic.3.5 shows participants in training Pic.3.6 liquid soup products on floor cleaner
4.The Technical Education Development if Modernization of Agriculture in Ghana(TEDMAG) aims to train Agric Extension Agents to equip them with knowledge to disseminate information and technologies to clients in the value chain such as processors producers, aggregators, etc. to improve upon the productivity of their various enterprises.Below are pictures showing Agric Extension Agents under training held on 5th August, 2021.
Pic 4.1 Staff of the Agric department Pic4.2 Staff participating in TEDMAG training
5. Three (3) Management staff from the Ga Central Municipal Agricultural Department carried out a monitoring visit to the various operational areas within the municipal, during the 3rd and 4th quarter 2021. The team members visited selected operational areas within all the four (4) zones; a) Sowutuom, b) Anyaa, c) Santa Maria, and d) Chantan. The purpose of the monitoring visit was to ascertain the various MAG activities going on in the operational areas. Below are pictures showing activities taken under monitoring.
Pic 5.1 Management of the department of Pic.5.2 Monitoring at lobster farm
agric on monitoring
Pic.5.3 Monitoring team at lobster farm Pic. 5.4 Monitoring at lobster farm
6. Urban and peri-urban agriculture production systems are based on season, locality, resource availability, food demand and market. Due to limited land size in the municipality, farmers are encouraged to cultivate in containers known as containing farming. Also farmers are encouraged to enter into catfish and mushroom farming which require limited land space.Below shows pictures of mushroom and catfish farms.
Pic.6.1 mushroom bags production Pic.6.2 Hatchery for catfish fingerling
Pic.6.3 School into container farming Pic.6.4 Established tarpaulin catfish pond
As part of the departments activity, a study tour was organized for AEA’s to showcase other technologies in other operational areas so as to build their confidence levels in their line of operations. Below are pictures showing staff in study tour and some wonderful technologies undertaken by some farmers within the municipality.
Pic.7.1 Container farm in Tabora Pic.7.2 Visit to lobster farm
Pic.7.3 Study tour a cabbage farm Pic.7.4 Study tour at a okro farm
8.Training of staff on the care and management of rabbit is very essential as rabbit production in the municipality is on the increase. This skills knowledge and resource will enable AEA’s to disseminate new technologies to farmers. Below are pictures showing staff members in a training session.
Pic.8.1Training session on rabbit production Pic.8.2 Training session on rabbit production
WORKPLAN FOR 2022
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION |
DEVELOPMENT DIMENDION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK |
SOURCE OF FUNDING |
DATE STARTED |
EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION |
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES |
Train field staff on HIV/AIDs and child labour |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
23 |
Organize 2 TEDMAG training for staff capacity building |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
25 |
Organize 4 quarterly management & annual performance review meeting |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
23 |
Supervise and monitor implementation of biosecurity measures in the municipality |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan |
Dec. |
550 |
Train staff on extension, marketing and processing of produce |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
25 |
Carry out home and farm visits |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
2200 |
Collect weekly market data on agric. commodities |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
150 |
Monitor activity implementation in the municipality |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
250 |
Train staff on M&E web-base and result oriented report |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
25 |
Organize 2 field day to showcase technologies |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
50 |
Organize Farmers Day |
Social &economic development |
GoG |
Dec. |
Dec |
300 |
Organize RELC planning session |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
40 |
Organize training for poultry & livestock farmers |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
50 |
Train crop farmers on Good Agricultural Practices |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
30 |
Organize training for women groups on agro processing, packaging & value addition |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
200 |
Train farmers on snail farming |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
25 |
1. Below are pictures showing training of poultry and livestock farmers
Pic.1.1 Training for livestock farmers Pic.1.2 Training for livestock farmers
2.As part of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s goal to improve upon reports and also ensure transparency in reporting, the web-base reporting system has been introduced as a new form of template to be used by MMDA’s in the country. Below are pictures showing activity taken on training of staff on web- base reporting held on 30th May, 2022
Pic.2.1 Staff in web-base training session Pic.2.2 Staff in web-base training session
Pic.2.3 Staff in web-base training session
3. As part of the departments activities, a field day is organized to showcase technologies adopted by farmers within the municipality. Below are pictures showing planting of plantain and okro in rolls to achieve higher yield. An activity undertaken on
Pic 3.1 staff on an okro farm on a field day Pic 3.2 staff at a plantain farm
4.The department is also responsible for providing high quality agriculture services to farmers in response to local needs through extension programs. In view of this, the Department of Agriculture on 17th November, 2022 organized training on snail farming and record keeping for snail farmers and those who are interested in snail farming as a result of limited land in the municipality.
Pic. 4.1 staff at a trainig session Pic.4.2 Practicals at the snail farm
Pic 4.
Pic 4.3 Samples of raised snails Pic.4.4 Practicals at the snail farm
5. As part of the Ga-Central Municipal Assembly MAG action plan a training workshop was organized on three (3) different date for six (6) groups on agro processing.
Pic.5.1 Women group Anyaa Pic.5.2 Women group Funmilk
6.The department as part of their duties supervises the implementation of good farm practices. An activity held within the municipality. Below are pictures showing the supervision of an implemented agricultural practice by providing poultry birds and sheep with shade to keep them safe from harsh weather conditions and the proper administration of drugs.
Pic.6.1 Supervision of technology implemented Pic.6.2 Supervision of technology implemented
Pic.6.3 Supervision of technology implemented Pic.6.4 Supervision of technology implemented
AGRIC DEPARTMENT WORKPLAN FOR 2023
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION |
DEVELOPMENT DIMENDION OF POLICY FRAMEWORK |
SOURCE OF FUNDING |
DATE STARTED |
EXPECTED DATE OF COMPLETION |
TOTAL BENEFICIARIES |
Maintenance and running cost of 1 vehicle and 5 motorbikes for general operations by end of 2022 |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
6 |
Organize TEDMAG trainings for 20 staff for capacity building by the end of the year
|
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
20 |
Plan, prepare budgets and compile 4 quarterly and 1 annual reports by end of the year, 2023 |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
20 |
Organize 4 quarterly management meetings and annual performance review |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan |
Dec. |
4 |
Monitor activity implementation by Director of Agric, MAOs, MCE and MCD |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
250 |
Organize 1 field days to showcase technologies by Sept. 2023 |
Social &economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
30 |
Organize Farmers Day celebration by the end of the year |
Economic development |
GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
300 |
Establish at least 2 demonstrations per AEA in their operational areas by end of 2023 |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
9 |
Supervise and monitor the implementation of biosecurity measures in the municipality |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
350 |
Organize training for 4 women groups on group dynamics |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
200 |
Carry out home and farm visits by 9 AEAs and supervision by 4 MAOs by end of year
|
Social &economic development |
GoG |
Dec. |
Dec |
4822 |
Build capacity of 2 FBOs in Agribusiness training, record keeping and contract negotiations |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
25 |
Organize 1 training for urban and peri-urban producers on climate change, safe use of agro chemicals & Planting for Food &Jobs by end of year |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
20 |
Organize 1 RELC planning sessions by end of the year |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
40 |
Organize 4 trainings for 4 women groups on agro processing, packaging and value addition as a source of alternative livelihood |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
200 |
Train 20 farmers on catfish production |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
20 |
Train 20 farmers on mushroom production |
Economic development |
MAG/GoG |
Jan. |
Dec. |
20 |
ACHIEVEMENTS
1. As part of our achievements, the department empowered women in poultry by proving them with poultry cages to enhance their production in the poultry sector. This presentation was done by the Hon. MCE at the forecourt of the Ga Central Municipal Assembly.
Pic1.1 shows the presentation of cages Pic1.2 shows the presentation of cages by MCE
2.NATIONALFARMER DAY CELEBRATIONS.
A day set aside by the nation to celebrate our farmers for playing an active role in ensuring food security in the country.Below are pictures showing awards present and awardees.
Pic2.1 Awards presented on 2022 farmers day Pic 2.2 Overal best farmer receing an award
Pic2.3 Awards presented on 2022 farmers day Pic2.4Awards presented on 2022 farmers day
3. ESTABLISHMENT OF CATFISH FARM
As part of our activities, the department took upon itself to establish a catfish pound in the municipal Assembly to serve as a training sight for training farmers in catfish production. Below are pictures showing the establishment.
Pic1.1Agric staffs at the catfish pond at the Pic1.1Agric staff feeding the catfish
Municipal Assembly, Antie Aku
4 ORGANISATION OF MINI FAIR
The department organised a mini fair held at Anyaa to showcase products produced by women groups formed by the department.Below are pictures of products exhibited at the fair.
Pic.4.1 Exhibits at the mini fair Pic.4.2 Exhibits at the mini fair
Pic.4.3 Exhibits at the mini fair
The Agric. Department will support urban and peri –urban agriculture by increasing production in the urban and peri- urban centers by 10% by the end of 2017 and 10% annually by the end of 2021. Activities for the program include home, school and market surveys and trainings.
Marketing of Ghanaian produce in domestic and international markets will also be achieved by increasing the level of market penetration for small holder farmers by 20% at the end of 2017 and 10% annually through to 2021. Activities to ensure successful implementation of the program are data collection at farm gates, linking of small holder farmers to variety of markets and organizing food bazaars
To ensure effective extension delivery services, home and farm visits with improved technologies will be reached to actors along the value chain.
Data collection, analysis and reporting will be operationalized and increased by 10% annually to the end of 2021 by the use of baseline surveys on poultry, rabbit and processing.
RELC generated technologies will be disseminated through organization of district RELC planning sessions annually throughout the program.
To ensure effective program implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation, organizing technical and annual performance review meetings and budget preparation.