Accra: Ghana's agriculture sector is facing a shortage of extension officers, with each officer currently serving an average of 1,500 farmers, significantly higher than the standard of 500.
According to Ghana News Agency, the alarming deficit was disclosed by Mr. Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, during the presentation of 150 motorbikes to extension officers to improve mobility and service delivery. Mr. Opoku highlighted that the current situation makes it nearly impossible for extension officers to provide effective training and support to farmers. This gap severely limits the adoption of modern farming techniques and keeps productivity low.
Mr. Opoku emphasized the crucial role of agriculture extension in bridging the gap between research institutions and farmers by disseminating knowledge on improved seeds, soil management, pest control, and post-harvest practices. However, the limited number of extension officers has left thousands of farmers without vital guidance. He stressed that without sufficient extension services, even the best agriculture policies and research breakthroughs would fail to reach smallholder farmers.
The Minister pointed out that this situation has contributed to Ghana's reliance on $2 billion worth of food imports annually, despite having fertile land and favorable weather. To address this issue, Mr. Opoku disclosed that the Ministry was recruiting additional Feed Ghana Coordinators to support the overburdened extension officers. The newly procured motorbikes will enhance mobility, enabling officers to reach remote farming communities regularly.
Mr. Opoku noted that the motorbikes would help officers move from farm to farm, ensuring that no farmers are left behind. He mentioned that thirty of the motorbikes are specially designed for female extension officers to promote inclusivity. Furthermore, the Minister stated that his department had registered 42,822 farmer cooperatives nationwide to streamline extension services. This initiative would be implemented by grouping farmers according to crop type and location, ensuring that officers conduct training sessions and distribute inputs efficiently.
