By: Saidu Jalloh
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) has launched a two-day planning session aimed at refining strategies for a more efficient and productive 2025 planting season.
The meeting, held on February 10-11 at the Ministry’s Conference Room, Youyi Building, brought together District Agriculture Officers, project managers, and senior officials to review the successes and setbacks of the 2024 season while outlining a roadmap for improvement.
Opening the session, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, provided a candid assessment of the past year’s agricultural performance. While acknowledging significant progress, he pointed to key hurdles, including delays in distributing essential inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, and herbicides, as well as the persistent challenge of inadequate mechanisation for large-scale cultivation.
Determined to address these gaps, Dr. Kpaka outlined a series of strategic interventions for the 2025 season. The Ministry will facilitate private investment in agricultural machinery, particularly tractors, with guaranteed contracts for owners. A public announcement will be made to encourage competition among machine operators. To prevent last season’s delays, seeds, fertilisers, and herbicides will be delivered on schedule to ensure optimal planting conditions.
The Ministry has set an ambitious target of cultivating 35,000 hectares of rice in 2025, a move aimed at bolstering food security. Input distribution will be streamlined through the Farmers Registry System to enhance transparency and accountability. The Ministry will deploy GPS technology to track cultivation activities, providing real-time data for informed decision-making.
Emphasising quality, the Ministry will distribute certified seeds rather than grains to improve yield. Chief Agriculture Officer, Professor Abdulai Jalloh, has been tasked with ensuring seed availability by April. A key focus will be on educating farmers about the government’s “win-win” initiative, which provides essential support in exchange for farmers selling a portion of their harvest to institutional feeding programs.
The meeting featured presentations from various agricultural projects, including FSRP, RRVCP, RAIC, SLARiS, and SCaDeP, offering insights into the successes and shortcomings of the previous season while proposing improvements for the year ahead. The second day of deliberations is expected to yield a comprehensive, actionable plan to achieve the Ministry’s objectives.
In attendance were the Deputy Ministers of Agriculture, the Senior Permanent Secretary, Directors, senior MAFS officials, all District Agriculture Officers, and project staff. With this strategic engagement, MAFS reaffirms its commitment to transforming the country’s agricultural sector, ensuring efficiency, and driving food security for the nation.
