The Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs has commenced a three-day familiarisation tour of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and its affiliated agencies to better understand their operations and challenges.

The visit began with a meeting at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, where the sector Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku, and his Deputy, Mr. John Dumelo, briefed the Committee on key programmes and policy directions.

Highlights included updates on the Feed Ghana initiative and strategic plans to prioritise irrigation farming and boost the poultry industry.

Minister Opoku outlined some pressing challenges confronting the Ministry, including gaps in decentralisation laws, a shortage of modern farming equipment such as tractors, inadequate warehouse infrastructure, and the limited availability of agricultural extension officers.

As part of the tour, the Committee also visited the West African Food System Resilience Project (FSRP), where they were received by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Osei Owusu Agyemang, and his team.

The FSRP team presented an overview of their activities aimed at strengthening food security and building resilience within the agricultural sector.

Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Jasaw Seidu Godfred, commended the Ministry and the FSRP for their work and reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to continued collaboration.

He noted that such visits would be held more frequently to facilitate stronger engagement and oversight.