MoFA donates fertiliser to support YƐREDUA urban vegetable farming
In a bold move to promote urban agriculture and enhance food security, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), through the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP), has distributed 1,000 bags of fertiliser to vegetable farmers in the Adentan and Ga East municipalities.
The initiative, dubbed YƐREDUA, is to support local farmers in growing essential vegetables such as tomatoes, onions, and pepper within the city and its suburbs.
Government commitment
The distribution ceremony was led by the Deputy Minister, John Dumelo, in Accra, where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering urban farmers. “Urban agriculture plays a vital role in feeding our cities and reducing reliance on imported foods.
YƐREDUA is part of a comprehensive strategy to modernise urban farming through infrastructure development, including building greenhouses, establishing controlled environment farms, and creating irrigated open-field spaces.
The initiative also emphasises technical support, encouraging citizens to cultivate vegetables in backyards, school gardens, and community spaces.
Farmer Service Centres
Mr Dumelo announced the upcoming establishment of 50 Farmer Service Centres nationwide, which would provide essential farming equipment such as tractors and power tillers, distribute improved seed varieties, and offer start-up capital.
Specifically, efforts are underway to set up such centres at Adentan, Ayawaso West Wuogon, and Tema West to make farming more attractive and accessible to the youth and local entrepreneurs.
Challenges
Addressing challenges faced by urban farmers, the deputy minister gave the assurance that the government would investigate issues such as land encroachment on designated agricultural lands and limited access to irrigation facilities.
“We are committed to protecting your farming spaces and ensuring that government lands are available for agricultural use,” he emphasised. “If any land has been encroached upon, we will take steps to restore it so farmers can continue their work without fear.”
YƐREDUA initiative
The YƐREDUA initiative also encourages citizens to grow vegetables in their backyards and community spaces, fostering a culture of urban gardening and food self-sufficiency.
It aligns with the broader objectives of the Feed Ghana Programme, under the Ghana Food Security and Agriculture Productivity (GFSAP) initiative, which aims at transforming the country’s agricultural landscape through mechanisation, access to credit, and extension services.
Farmers benefiting from the fertiliser aid expressed gratitude but also shared their concerns about ongoing challenges such as land security, irrigation access, and high input costs.
