Policy & Advocacy

The Policy and Advocacy Initiative by GIRSAL drives collaboration with industry stakeholders to establish policies that create a supportive environment for agribusinesses to thrive. This initiative stems from the recognition that effective agricultural financing relies on supportive policies and systems that enable stakeholders to operate efficiently and sustainably.

Areas of Impact :

Assessment of the Fertilizer Subsidy Program (FSP)

GIRSAL assessed the Fertilizer Subsidy Program (FSP) under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative based on the program’s impact in terms of cost and benefit. The study included interviews of selected PFJ and Non-PFJ Farmers, Input Dealers, District Directors of MOFA, Immigration, and Customs Officers in the Ashanti, Bono, Volta, Northern and Upper East Regions.

The assessment provided the basis for policy recommendations towards providing fertilizer subsidies in a more efficient and sustainable manner. Notably, a smart subsidy approach was proposed to replace the direct cash subsidy. This proposal is reflected in the Planting for Food and Jobs II (PFJ 2) programme.

Agribusiness Forum

The Agribusiness Forum Ghana (AFG) serves as the primary umbrella organization for agribusiness actors at the national level. Its core objective is to provide a unified and influential platform for agribusinesses, financial institutions and other stakeholders to advocate for effective policies that foster agricultural growth. AFG aims to create a favourable business environment for sector development, targeting members such as agricultural associations, input dealers, producers, aggregators, processors, financial institutions, and exporters. The Forum is facilitated by the Ghana Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (GIRSAL) and supported by key sector organizations. So far, this initiative has officially been incorporated as Agribusiness Forum Ghana. Several leading organizations, including major agribusinesses and commercial banks, have already signed on as members. The Forum is expected to be launched and commence operations by the end of the year.

Resolving Management Issues at the Fruit Terminal (SHED 9)

GIRSAL is also supporting horticultural exporters in engagements to address management issues at the Fruit Export Terminal at the Tema Port (SHED 9), which has resulted in high freight costs for horticultural exporters.

To achieve this, GIRSAL has supported the Federation of Association of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Sea-Freight Pineapple Exporters of Ghana (SPEG) and the Fruit Terminal Company (FTC) to engage the Ministries of Transport and Food & Agriculture and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to call for the renewal of the horticultural industry-owned, FTC’s license.

Again, GIRSAL has facilitated publications in the media to highlight the need for the renewal of FTC’s licence for stevedoring and shore handling aimed at reducing the freight cost for horticultural exporters and improving their competitiveness in the global market.

Agricultural Data Classification

The current classification framework underestimates the actual financial support to agriculture.

To address this, GIRSAL is leading an initiative to collaborate with the BoG, financial institutions and other relevant bodies to revise the agricultural data classification framework. This effort aims to encompass all activities within the agricultural value chain, providing a more accurate reflection of the sector’s contributions to the economy and improving data for developing effective policies and interventions for economic growth.

So far, a concept note has been developed to form the basis for initial engagements with stakeholders this year.

Increasing Competitiveness of the Poultry Broiler Industry

A key component of GIRSAL’s 5-year strategic plan is the improvement of import substitution, which includes developing the competitiveness of Ghana’s poultry industry targeted at growing the sector. This includes increasing the consumption of local poultry and assisting in reducing production costs in the industry.

In view of this, GIRSAL partnered with Agrihouse Foundation to organise the 4^th annual Poultry Day celebration. The programme aimed to highlight the nutritional benefits of local poultry and increasing consumption in the industry.

GIRSAL is currently working with stakeholders in the industry to explore ways of reducing the cost of feed, which is a significant part of production cost to increase competitiveness of actors in the industry.

Feasibility Study on Investment in Derivatives of Technically Specified Rubber (TSR)

The rubber industry significantly contributes to Ghana’s economy, generating about USD 131.3 million in exports of natural rubber sheets, according to statistics from the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

The industry mainly exports products in the form of Technically Specified Rubber (TSR). To improve rubber value addition in the industry, GIRSAL is currently conducting a feasibility study on investment into other potential products derived from TSR. This is targeted at expanding the product portfolio in the rubber industry to create more jobs, generate additional income for processors, and increase export earnings.

The study aims to provide insight into areas such as potential products derived from TSR, required investment costs for the identified products, market opportunities, and profitability for policy recommendations to the government.