Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, has called on private companies operating in the agricultural sector to back the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs Phase 2 (PFJ II) initiative.
This initiative aims to bolster food security and resilience by providing farmers with essential inputs.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that private sector support would enhance the initiative’s underlying model, which includes an input credit system.
This system is expected to address critical challenges such as limited access to credit, the quality of agricultural inputs, unstructured agricultural produce markets, and low mechanization, among others.
Ghana boasts abundant arable land, suitable soils for various crops, water resources for irrigation, favorable weather conditions, and a diverse range of food commodities. These factors provide numerous opportunities for job creation along the agricultural value chains.
Yaw Frimpong Addo made these remarks during a recognition ceremony organized by the Plant Protection And Regulatory Services Directorate (PPRSD) in Accra. The event aimed to honor agriculture service providers and agrochemical dealers, with a special mention of Wynca Sunshine for their consistent support to farmers.
As part of the ceremony, Wynca Sunshine received a citation recognizing their outstanding commitment and dedication to the agricultural sector. The company was lauded for its efforts in combating the distribution of counterfeit pesticides harmful to crops, farmers, and consumers. They invested $6.5 million in the construction of a modern manufacturing factory to achieve this.
The Deputy Minister also commended Wynca Sunshine for their ongoing support of the National Best Farmers awards with cash and agricultural inputs and encouraged them to extend their support to the PFJ II.
With the successful implementation of the PFJ II and the support of companies like Wynca Sunshine, Yaw Frimpong Addo expressed optimism that Ghana would become fully self-sufficient in food production. This, in turn, could reduce or eliminate the need for food imports from outside and neighboring West African countries.
The Director of the PPRSD, Eric Bentsil Quaye, highlighted the agrochemical and services company’s recognition for its quality of inputs, consistency, timely services, renewal of licensing, and the scale of its operations. These factors have contributed to improved crop yields and economic gains for farmers and the nation.
Zhu Tao, Director of Wynca Sunshine Ghana, mentioned the company’s decade-long efforts to promote pesticide safety and the responsible use of agricultural inputs. This was achieved through various programs, including product stewardship, training, capacity building, and industry responsible care.
The company has conducted over 100 training sessions for approximately 250,000 farmers on the judicious and sensible use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers and continues to support Ghana’s Farmers’ Day campaign with substantial grants.
Wynca Sunshine’s commitment to agricultural sustainability and safety has had a positive impact on Ghana’s agricultural sector, ensuring the responsible use of inputs and improved crop production.
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