The Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity has held a one-day validation workshop and Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on improving Agricultural Sector Policy Implementation Coordination at the District level.
The workshop brought together key actors in the agricultural value chain to validate the key findings of an assessment of Agricultural Value Chain Governance Mechanisms at the district level.
The study was commissioned by the USAID Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity to assess the effectiveness of structures established as part of initiatives to strengthen agriculture value chain governance systems.
The study was carried out in 16 out of the 17 USAID Zones of Influence in the Upper West, Upper East, Northern, and North East Regions. Five districts and municipalities in the Upper West Region - Nadowli-Kaleo, Daffiama Bussie Issa, Sissala East, Sissala West, and Wa East participated in the study.
The report disclosed that the majority of the District Value Chain Committees (DVCCs) formed to improve the implementation of agricultural policies are currently ineffective. Dr. Michael Pervarah, a Research Consultant, presented the study's findings in Wa.
The report suggested integrating the DVCCs into the local government system to enhance governance within the agricultural value chain at the district levels.
It also recommended capacity building for members of the committees work effectively.
Mr Samson Konlan, Enabling Team Lead for the Ghana MSR Activity, noted that the project aims to increase economic growth in Northern Ghana.
He also stated, what informs the assessment of the Agricultural Value Chain Governance Mechanism. Mr Konlan mentioned that the MSR Activity intends to use the value chain mechanisms to improve policy implementation and agricultural productivity.
“We are trying to bring public sector actors in the agriculture sector and the private sector actors to be able to regularly coordinate and interact through what we called the Public Private Dialogue (PPD) sessions,” Mr Konlan stated.
Madam Mavis Derigubah, the Wa East District Director of Agriculture stated, for the DVCCs to be effective, the members must own the program. She also intimated that district and Municipal assemblies should incorporate the activities of the DVCCs in their medium-term plans.
Mr Iddrisu Issah Bolunbu, a farmer and mechanization service provider from the Sissala East District, mentioned that the DVCCs connect the various actors in the agricultural value chain.
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