1. Presented at the Dissemination Workshop of ECIATA-EDULINK II Project at Meaglant Hotel, Accra March 23-24, 2015 National Agricultural Policy and Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP - Ghana By Harrison Dapaah and Alex Ablordey

2. Introduction Agricultural sector plays a significant role in the socio- economic development of the national economies in West Africa: - employing about 60 % of its populace - contributing about 35% of the region's GDP Agricultural policy and food security are major priorities for the sub-region and individual countries. Agricultural exports constitute the bulk of the sub-region's external trade Therefore, agriculture can be a significant pivotal point for regional market integration and the fight against food insecurity and poverty within the sub-region.

3. Introduction (2) In line with the NEPAD Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) – African wide The ECOWAS Commission adopted the ECOWAS Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) in 2005 to ensure food security in the region, and make the most of production from regional agricultural sectors The ECOWAP was to contribute significantly to meeting the food and other agricultural needs, develop the economies of the States and reduce poverty through: - the adaptation of production systems and improving the production environment; - the deepening of the ECOWAS common market in the agricultural sector; and - the integration of the regions agriculture market into the world market.

4. Status of Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP (1) The implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP was based on two levels of intervention: - the national level (with National Investment Programs (NAIPs)) and - the regional level (with the design of mobilizing and federating programs complementary to the national programs). Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II (GPRS II, 2006-2009) - largely dependent on the agricultural sector to stimulate the structural transformation of the economy Food and Agricultural Sector Development Policy II (FASDEP II, 2009-2013) - long term policy objectives of government to the development of the agriculture sector. Linked to the national vision in GPRS II, CAADP and MDGs

5. Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP, 2011-2015) - investment plan to implement the medium term programmes of the Agriculture policy - provided an integrated framework to support agricultural growth, rural development and food security Ghana Shared Growth and Development Agenda (GSGDA) and Revised FASDEP II - accelerate agricultural modernization; improve efficiency, productivity; and therefore achieve sustainable natural resource management - GSGDA expects agriculture to spur industrial growth Status of Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP (2)

6. Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Increasing Food Supply and Reducing Hunger Across the Region by Increasing Smallholder Productivity and Improving Responses to Food Emergencies. Includes emergency food supply management, nutrition, school feeding schemes, HIV/AIDS support strategies, attention to priority livelihood sectors (Pillar 3). Sustainable Development of Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Resources (Cross- cutting) 1. Food Security and Emergency Preparedness. Includes vulnerability in food security through contingency planning, emergency preparedness including establishment of strategic stocks to address the negative effects of climatic change and natural disasters.  Productivity improvement Support to improved nutrition Support for diversification of livelihood options of the poor with Off-farm Activities Linked to agriculture Food storage and distribution Early Warning Systems and Emergency preparedness Irrigation and water management Mechanization services Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (1)

7. Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (2) Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Increasing Market Access Through Improved Rural Infrastructure and Other Trade Related Interventions. Includes supply chain development, quality control and management system development, export infrastructure, and global trade policies and agreements (Pillar 2). Sustainable Development of Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Resources (Cross- cutting) 2. Improved Growth in Incomes and Reduced Income Variability. Includes income diversification activities involving a range of commodities including cash crops, livestock and indigenous commodities. This will be done through the value chain approach and application of science and technology to improve productivity.  Promotion of cash crop, livestock and fisheries production for income in all ecological zones Development of new products Development of pilot value chains for one selected commodity in each ecological zone Intensification of FBOs and out- grower grower schemes concept Rural infrastructure Support to Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture

8. Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (3) Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Increasing Market Access Through Improved Rural Infrastructure and Other Trade Related Interventions. Includes supply chain development, quality control and management system development, export infrastructure, and global trade policies and agreements (Pillar 2). 3. Increased Competitiveness and Enhanced Integration into Domestic and International Markets. Includes enhancing capacity of players to access markets, improving quality standards, safety and provision of infrastructure such as cold chain facilities.  Marketed output of non-export smallholder commodities increased. Export of non-traditional agricultural export commodities by men and women smallholders increased. Grading and standardization systems made functional.

9. Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (4) Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Extending the Area under Sustainable Land Management and Reliable Water Control Systems. Includes soil fertility management and conservation, agricultural water use and irrigation, and land policy and administration. (Pillar 1). 4. Sustainable Management of Land and Environment. Includes sustainability in utilisation of resources through programmes, policy, regulation and mitigation measures against environmental degradation Policies and regulations to support SLM at all levels reviewed and strengthened. Institutional capacity at all levels within the food and agriculture sector built to support the promotion of SLM. Technology dissemination and adoption for scaling-up of SLM. Technical capacity at all levels built to support promotion and dissemination of SLM technologies. SLM knowledge to support policy and investment decision making generated and adequately managed.

10. Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (5) Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Improving Agricultural Research and Systems to Disseminate Appropriate New Technologies and Increasing the Support Given to Help Farmers Adopt Them. Includes technology development, access and dissemination; innovation systems platforms; building research capacity and training (Pillar 4). 5. Science and Technology Applied in Food and Agriculture Development. Includes enhancing application of science by all economic agents, improved technologies to support priority areas and client linkage systems to ensure demand driven research and utilization of results. Adoption of improved technologies by men and women farmers increased. Agricultural research funding increased. A MOFA Unit to coordinate research output of the agricultural sector is well resourced and made functional. A sustainable funding mechanism for RELCs established and operational.

11. Alignment of FASDEP II and METASIP Objectives or Components with ECOWAP/CAADP Pillars (6) Corresponding CAADP Pillars and crosscutting issues FASDEP Objectives METASIP programmes and components Institutions (Cross- cutting). 6. Enhanced Institutional Coordination. Includes enhanced partnership and harmonisation of efforts in order to achieve maximum results in growth and development of the sector Strengthen Intra-ministerial coordination Inter-ministerial coordination Partnership with Private sector and Civil Society Organisations Coordination with Development Partners

12. Main Areas of Policy Intervention in FASDEP Infrastructure development (construction of feeder roads, storage facilities and improvement in irrigation) Provision of appropriate technology through agricultural research and development Provision of public extension services In line with NEPAD’s CAADP, the Ghana government actually spent 10% of government expenditure from 2009-2012 on agriculture. Status of Implementation of ECOWAP/CAADP (3)

13. Trade-Related Agriculture Sector Policies (1) With agricultural exports constituting the bulk of the country’s external trade; trade in agriculture products can be a significant pivotal point for regional market integration, stimulating economic growth; and reducing poverty and food insecurity in the sub-region. CROPS Cocoa Accounts for 2.4% GDP; 78 % exported Only major producer without a privatized marketing board COCOBOD – a semi-autonomous institution under the Ministry of Finance responsible for procurement and pricing of cocoa, research and marketing Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) – a subsidiary of COCOBOD has monopoly rights over exports. Producer Price Review Committee (PPRC) – sets producer price in October each year. (PPRC – reps from cocoa farmers, licensed buying companies, CMC, Bank of Ghana, Ministry of Finance). LBCs only engage in internal trade and marketing and purchase directly from farmers on behalf of COCOBOD. All processing companies purchase beans from COCOBOD.

14. Rice Government has prioritized rice production. 70 % of domestic consumption on imports. Most of locally produced rice by small scale farmers with limited access to modern seed and inputs. Yam Ghanaian Yam Strategy for Rural Development in 2012 to increase production and commercialization of yams and related crops. World’s second-largest producer – only 30,000 metric tonnes is exported. Fruits and Vegetables Mainly to EU Threatened by wide spread of fruit fly. 5-year Regional Action Plan to control fruit flies in West Africa adopted in Bamako, Mali by ECOWAS and World Bank in 2009. Trade-Related Agriculture Sector Policies (2)

15. Livestock Almost 70% of meat and dairy consumed in Ghana is imported Livestock improvement project – cattle (dairy and meat), sheep and goats, Poultry Improvement Project – broiler production project Initiative to provide better animal health services, mass vaccinations and research into large scale breeding and production. Fisheries Employs about 10% of the economically active population Contributes about 7% of GDP Industrial fish processing mainly tuna canning and tune fish meal Canned tuna is the most important export, but other fish are also exported in frozen or smoked form to European market. Trade-Related Agriculture Sector Policies (3)

16. Projects/Initiatives related to FASDEP II / METASIP aligned with CAADP/ECOWAP Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Programme (RTIMP) Export Marketing and Quality Awareness Project (EMQAP) West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programme (WAAPP) Rice Sector Support Project Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) Inland Valleys Rice Development Project (IVRDP) Programme for the Promotion of Perennial Crops in Ghana Livestock Improvement Project Poultry Improvement Project – Broiler production project

17. Conclusion ECOWAP has been adopted and forms an integral part of the agriculture development policy of Ghana to promoted value chain development to facilitate more export of agriculture products. Measures directly affecting agro-production and agro-trade - incentives - standards and quality infrastructure - marketing and value chain development -intellectual property and privatization Measures directly affecting agricultural exports - export producers - incentives/subsidies Measures directly affecting agricultural imports - tariffs, custom clearance and other import procedures.

18. Thank You