BLOCK FARM PROGRAMME LOOKING AT THE OPTIONS

BLOCK FARM PROGRAMME LOOKING AT THE OPTIONS

The agriculture sector development is important to overall economic growth and development of Ghana. In the national development agenda, agriculture is expected to lead the growth and structural transformation of the economy and maximize the benefits of accelerated growth. Significant improvements in the productivity of the agriculture sector are required to raise the average real incomes of Ghanaians as a whole. The food and agriculture sector also has direct impact on the attainment of at least five of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

It is in view of this that as a matter of policy the Government of Ghana under the NDC embarked on the block farm project. The block farm programme aims at creating employment for the youth, reducing poverty and creation of wealth further it is expected that the production of various crops under the programmed will lead to an increase in contribution of GDP to the economy, finally food and raw material security.

PRESENT STATE OF BLOCK FARMING PROGRAMME

The block farm concept is not new. The concept was introduced by the President Rawlings led NDC government prior to 2001. The idea is to acquire blocks of land that will be “prepared and supported” by government for farming by especially the youth, thereby creating employment and increasing yields.

The government also provides support in the form of mechanization,
fertilizers and advice. The hope is that, besides for creating job
opportunities, yields will also be increased. According to ‘Earth Trends’, average crop yield for cereals (kg per ha) for the world in 2001 was 3,096 whereas the yield for Ghana was 1,305. To date the NDC government has claimed the following benefits of the Block Farming (BF) concept:

• The Block Farm component of the YAP has been implemented in six regions, providing jobs to over 47,000 youths;
• Over 12,000 hectares of land have been cultivated under the Block
  Farm concept;
• 197,000 metric tonnes of farm produce is expected from the 12,000
  hectares.

The Agricultural Sector Performance Index for the year 2009 shows a significant improvement in the sector that holds the key to the country’s development.

Rice production went up by 29% last year, along with maize which clocked a 5% upward move on the previous years. Groundnuts and Cowpea saw a 3% growth each in 2009 whilst Sorghum and Millet production went up by 20% each.

Other commodities that witnessed significant increases are 12million tons of cassava, 6million tons of yams, 1.5million tons of cocoyam and 3.6million tons plantain.

In its bid to empower farmers to increase their yield for food sufficiency, the President Mills administration procured 332 agricultural tractors and 63 combined harvesters for distribution to famers across the country on hire-purchase. 17,000 farmers were given starter packs worth $230 each in the form of a grant. About 12,439 farmers including some 8,000 youth were provided with inputs to cultivate 3,236 hectares of maize, 6,935 hectares of rice and 4,015 hectares of soybeans.

Additionally, the fertilizer subsidy programme was successfully rolled out, providing a 50% subsidy to smallholder farmers.

SITUATION ON THE GROUND.                                    
Most districts embarking on the block farm programmed do not use the right personnel’s required for the job, it is interesting to note that some groups use actress, carpenters, masons and hairdressers to participate in this technically intensive programme. I will like to state that without technical know how of the group members this can surely fail. Further some communities are not inclined in farming they may be inclined in non traditional farming like bee-keeping, mushroom cultivation and grass cutter production but then it looks as if every community attention is focused cultivation of crops.

Erratic rainfall patterns, high cost of agrochemicals, lack of knowledge on improved farming and post harvest practices as well as lack of production credit and markets for farm produce are some of the constraints militating against increased production and improvement in food security.

Measures required to remove these constraints were quoted as:

• Improving access to quality certified seeds;
• Training of seed growers to increase seed production;
• Conducting more farm demonstrations on improved agricultural
  practices;
• Assisting in soil improvement interventions;
• Linking more farmers to input dealers and encouraging farmers to use agrochemicals in right quantities;
• Organizing inventory credit programmes for commodities like maize;
• Providing  market opportunities for commodities produced by farmers;
• Involving farmers with good technical know how in setting priorities for public investments in food security programmes;

RECOVERY OF THE LOAN

This has been the greatest challenge to most district directors as over 80% of groups’ forms have not been able to fulfill their obligation in settling their debts. This can attributed to the use of individuals who do not have any background in agriculture and where only interested in the resources provided by government, also just by the fact that inputs for production is been provided by government farmers are reluctant to pay since they see the facility as a political gain than a policy issue, and lastly most groups might not be interested in production of crops but they are forced to produce crops against their will and this will definitely lead to failure of the program.

LOOKING AT THE OPTIONS

Ø  Each district should identify at least 10 “serious” farmers with basic farming equipments and implements like tractor and its accessories, storage structure, and good farm records and accounting system. Each farmer should have not less than 50 acres.

Ø  Each district should have a crop target for the various crops and identify not more than 10 serious farmers per crop to undertake its cultivation and implementation. The role of good quality seed cannot be overemphasized in this venture.

Ø  These farmers will then establish out grower schemes with members in the communities and they will be charge of monitoring, and oversight responsibilities will be given to the agricultural extension agents to supervise the farmers and come out with progress reports. A selected farmer will be held responsible for the failure or success of the farm. The ripple effect is that this scheme will create employment to the people in the various communities and also provide raw materials for industrialization.

Ø  Even to talk more some of the farmers only need fertilizer to get the farm going. Land preparation should be bare by the farmer and then seed supply and the rest must follow from government

Ø  Farmers in project districts should be educated to change their orientation from farming as a way of life to farming as a business.

Ø  To conclude the poor state of our certified seed production should be rectified now to improve the progression of the programme.