GHANA SCHOOL FEEDING PROGRAMME AND LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION IN NADOWLI/KALEO DISTRICT IN THE UPPER WEST REGION

In 2005, the Government of Ghana started its own School Feeding Programme (SFP) along the lines of the Home Grown School Feeding concept. The Programme was different from other SFPs that had traditionally used imported processed foodstuffs. This study sought to examine how the programme is boosting local food production in the Nadowli /Kaleo district or the Upper West Region. Probability and non-probability sampling methods were employed to select one hundred and fifty (150) respondents from the various stakeholders of the programme. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used to solicit information from the respondents. The research revealed among other things that, majority of key actors do not play their roles as expected. Furthermore, the key actors like farmers were not well equipped in terms of training and incentives to produce more food for the programme. More so, there is no link between caterers and farmers; therefore the bulk of food purchased by caterers is not from farmers in the communities where the beneficiary school is located. The study again revealed that there is no significant change in the processes of food production in terms of increased acreage use of modern technology in the study area. In line with the findings, the study recommends that the Chairpersons of Farmer Based Organisations (FBO) or the Chief Farmer in the community should be a member of the School Implementing Committee (SIC). Government should also make a special arrangement with some banks like rural banks to give loans to the caterers and FBOs for their operations. The district coordinator or the programme should create a platform, such as a roundtable meeting between caterers and FBOs at least once a term. Modalities of foodstuffs procurement from local farmers should also be clearly spelt out by the government.