Accra: The government has mobilized 506 Feed Ghana Brigade officers across the nation to bolster agricultural extension services and deliver technical support to farmers and agribusinesses.
According to Ghana News Agency, these officers, selected from agricultural colleges and universities, will contribute to the Feed Ghana Programme by collaborating with farmers, agribusinesses, households, schools, and institutions to enhance food production and security. Mr. Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, disclosed this at a pass-out parade for the officers following their completion of a two-week training program at the National Police Training School (NPTS) in Accra.
Mr. Opoku noted that the brigadiers would act as a conduit between national agricultural policies and their implementation at the district level. They are tasked with supporting farmers through extension services, coordinating program activities, monitoring implementation, collecting field data, identifying challenges, and providing technical support to various stakeholders.
The Minister emphasized that the recruits, though already qualified agricultural professionals, underwent training at the Police Training School to instill discipline, teamwork, resilience, and a strong sense of public service. He urged the officers to work under the supervision of District Directors of Agriculture and cooperate with existing agricultural extension officers to avoid establishing a parallel agricultural system.
Mr. Opoku also mentioned that the Ministry had received interest from private agribusinesses seeking the services of the newly trained brigadiers and announced plans to recruit and train more graduates as the programme expands.
Mr. Bright Demordzi, National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, highlighted that the training combined technical agricultural knowledge with leadership, ethics, communication, conflict resolution, and physical fitness, equipping the officers to complement existing extension services and support farmers nationwide.
Mr. Frederick Kofi Blagodzi, Director-General in charge of Human Resource Development at the Ghana Police Service, encouraged the officers to maintain professionalism and integrity, stressing that their conduct would reflect the government's investment in preparing them for national service.