The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Eric Opoku, has officially launched the Agro Input Distribution Project under the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) – Additional Financing to the Savannah Investment Programme, with a US$20 million grant aimed at boosting food and nutrition security in Ghana’s Northern Savannah Ecological Zone.

Speaking at the launch in Tamale, the Minister said the initiative is a strategic expansion of the Savannah Investment Programme and aligns with the government’s Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to increase agricultural productivity, reduce import dependence, and promote agro-industrial growth.

“This project is carefully designed to broaden its reach, improve livelihoods, and contribute meaningfully to the Government’s vision of building sustainable and resilient food systems,” Mr. Opoku stated.

The project will be implemented in 12 districts across six regions, including Tamale Metro, Mion, Savelugu, Nanton, West Gonja, East Mamprusi, Mamprugu Moagduri, Bawku West, Wa Municipal, Nandom, Sissala East, and Krachi East.

It is expected to benefit at least 50,000 households, with a special focus on 30,000 women and youth, by increasing climate-smart local food production, supporting staple crops such as maize, rice, soybean, cowpea, and groundnut, and introducing year-round vegetable farming through solar-powered irrigation systems.

A key innovation of the project is its strong emphasis on poultry production.

Under the programme:

• 50,000 guinea keets will be distributed to 5,000 households for backyard poultry farming.

• 50,000 pullets will go to 500 female farmers for egg production.

• 50,000 broilers and 50,000 guinea fowls will be distributed to commercial poultry farmers, with each farmer receiving a 50% subsidy on day-old chicks as well as feed, vaccines, and medication.

“These interventions are designed not only to increase incomes and food availability but also to strengthen the poultry value chain and reduce the country’s dependence on imported poultry products,” the minister emphasised.

The initiative also includes a US$1 million revolving fund to improve access to affordable financial services for value chain actors, ensuring the sustainability of the programme.

At the launch, the Ministry began the distribution of essential agricultural inputs, including:

• 46,400 bags of NPK fertiliser for maize

• 1,080 bags of fertiliser for rice

• 5,200 bags of fertiliser for soybean

• 23,740 bags of urea

• 15,460 bags of organic fertiliser for vegetables

• 4,400 bags of rice seed

• 5,200 bags of maize, soybean, and cowpea seeds

Mr. Opoku expressed gratitude to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) for the grant, and to the African Development Bank (AfDB) for its technical support in facilitating the project.

He urged beneficiary farmers to adopt best agronomic practices and use the inputs responsibly, stressing that success depends on the sustainable use of the resources provided.

“With this launch, we are taking another step towards building resilient agricultural systems that generate jobs, improve nutrition, and ensure food security for all Ghanaians,” the minister concluded.