PARTICIPATION AND YIELD EFFECT OF GHANA'S PLANTING FOR FOOD AND JOBS PROGRAMME IN BUNKPURUGU-YUNYOO DISTRICT

Abstract

It is always important to evaluate the performance of agricultural interventions as early as possible in order that subsequent implementation could benefit from lessons learned from successes and failures. This paper examined the effect of participation in Ghana's Planting for Food and Jobs programme on maize yields in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo District of Northern Region. Data from a cross-section of maize farmers was analyzed using the Heckman treatment effects model. The results showed that participants of the PFJ programme obtained higher yields than the non-participants by about 4 bags per acre. However, some farmers still face the challenges of limited access to fertilizer, late delivery of inputs, and low access to extension services which tend to limit the potential outcomes to be realized from the intervention. Therefore, the programme implementers, particularly the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) should ensure expanded access and timely delivery of inputs, to help enhance the realization of the PFJ policy objectives as well as ensure effective extension supervision.