Agriculture Minister, Private sector developing capacity-building program aimed at small farmers.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, met with representatives from WUSC, GCCI, and GBTI to discuss the progress of a capacity-building program aimed at small farmers.

The program provides farmers with valuable information to increase their productivity, income, and commercialization opportunities through market linkages, climate-smart agriculture, good agricultural practices, access to productivity-increasing inputs, and entrepreneurship.

The Minister challenged the group to develop a financial product that will give small farmers more access to finance, assist in removing the stigmas associated with agriculture, and work with youths to get involved in growing high-end crops under shaded cultivation.

He also highlighted the Government’s push for agro-processing and the planned construction of 13 agro-processing facilities across the country by the end of 2023, urging the group to work with relevant government agencies to help farmers and processors make the most of these facilities.

WUSC/GCCI and partners utilized a market system approach to locate small farmers within the entire market system and address the key constraints to sustainable small farmers’ participation, including access to inputs, finance, or markets.

The Minister suggested using this approach to work with other agencies in the agriculture sector such as the GLDA and GRDB. This collaboration involves all market actors, including NAREI, New GMC, SBB, GCCI, GBTI, IPED, and GFSA, to ensure a multi-sectoral approach to sustainable agriculture.

With the Minister’s support, the program aims to provide small farmers with the necessary tools and resources to succeed in the agriculture sector and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

(Ministry of Agriculture/GCCI)