Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Ghana)

Ghana's Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is the government agency responsible for the development and growth of agriculture in the country. The jurisdiction does not cover the cocoa, coffee or forestry sectors.^[1]

Structure of MOFA

The ministry is headed by the Minister for Agriculture and his three deputies. The deputies are in charge of the following:^[2]

• Deputy Minister in charge of Fisheries
• Deputy Minister in charge of Crops
• Deputy Minister in charge of Livestock

Functions of MOFA

The ministry's roles include the following:^[1]

• Formulation of appropriate agricultural policies to aid the agricultural sector.
• Planning and co-ordination of various development projects in the agricultural sector.
• Monitoring and evaluation of the projects and programmes instituted to assess their progress.

Mission

Its mission is to promote sustainable agriculture and thriving agribusiness through research and technology development, effective extension and other support services to farmers, processors and traders for improved livelihood.^[3]

Vision

The vision of the Ministry is a modernised agriculture culminating in a structurally transformed economy and evident in food security, employment opportunities and reduced poverty.^[4]

Objectives

Agriculture in Ghana is recognised 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 stabilisation, environmental sustainability and buffer during economic shocks. Based on the role of agriculture in the national development framework, Food and Agriculture Sector Development Policy (FASDEP II) has the following as its objectives:

• Food security and emergency preparedness
• Improved growth in incomes
• Increased competitiveness and enhanced integration into domestic and international markets
• Sustainable management of land and environment
• Science and Technology Applied in food and agriculture development
• Improved institutional Coordination ^[5]

See also

• Agriculture in Ghana

References