The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has commended the Saviour Church of Ghana for its significant contribution to agricultural development and national food security, following the church’s participation in the government’s flagship Feed Ghana Programme.

The Minister gave the commendation during a working visit to Gyidiman Farms, an agricultural enterprise owned by the church’s leader, Nana Abraham, to assess its farming operations and explore opportunities for further government support.

Hon. Opoku disclosed that the Saviour Church of Ghana was the first religious institution to register under the Feed Ghana Programme following engagements initiated by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture ahead of the programme’s official launch.

He described the church’s investment in commercial agriculture as a significant contribution to Ghana’s quest for food self-sufficiency, noting that partnerships with religious institutions and private agricultural investors remain crucial to transforming the country’s agricultural sector.

The Minister expressed excitement at the scale of operations at Gyidiman Farms, which has more than 350 acres of cashew, 320 acres of mango and 450 acres of maize ready for harvesting.

In addition to these major crops, the farm cultivates tomatoes, pepper, onions, ginger and other food crops, alongside extensive livestock production.

He also praised the church for extending its agricultural investments into agro-processing, particularly through its rice processing facility, which processes and packages locally produced rice under the brand name Gidiman Local Perfume Rice.

Addressing some of the challenges confronting agricultural production, Hon. Opoku stressed the need for Ghana to move beyond dependence on rain-fed agriculture towards irrigation-based farming to ensure consistent food production throughout the year.

He explained that the government's Irrigation for Wealth Creation initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, is aimed at expanding irrigation infrastructure to unlock the country's agricultural potential and support all-year-round farming.

As part of efforts to support Gyidiman Farms, the Minister announced that the government was facilitating the provision of irrigation infrastructure for the farm, with the procurement process nearing completion.

He further disclosed that the Ministry had secured the support of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition to connect the farm to the national electricity grid to facilitate the operation of its irrigation system.

According to him, contractors are already undertaking electricity connection works at the facility, paving the way for the installation and eventual operation of the irrigation infrastructure.

Hon. Opoku expressed confidence that the intervention would address the farm's water challenges, improve productivity and significantly expand its capacity to contribute to domestic food production.

The Minister also urged Ghanaians to patronise locally produced agricultural commodities, particularly locally processed rice, emphasising that increased consumption of home-grown products would stimulate investment, strengthen agro-processing industries and create employment opportunities.

He reiterated that Ghana's agricultural transformation agenda requires strong collaboration among government, religious institutions, farmers, private investors and agro-processors.

Hon. Opoku noted that the Saviour Church of Ghana's investment in commercial farming and agro-processing demonstrates the important role religious institutions can play in national development, particularly in advancing food security and economic growth.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to supporting credible agricultural investments and strengthening partnerships under the Feed Ghana Programme to increase domestic food production, create jobs and build a resilient agricultural economy.

Report By: Robicon Mornahson