Agricultural economist Dr. Edward Karewe who is a former General Secretary of the General Agricultural Workers Union has called on Ghanaians to manage their expectations regarding government’s new agricultural initiatives, including Nkoko Nkiti Nkiti and Feed Ghana programs. He cautioned that the full benefits of these programs will take time to materialize.
Speaking on the Happy Morning Show with Kwadwo Safa Danquah, Dr. Karewe explained that although the policies hold promise, their impact will not be immediately visible in 2025 due to the natural gestation period required for implementation.
“The full effect of these policies will not be felt this year because implementation takes time. It’s like farming you don’t harvest immediately after planting,” he said. “For instance, the Nkoko Nkiti Nkiti project, which involves improved seedlings, is expected to show tangible results only after two and a half to three years. The same applies to crops such as oil palm.”
He also noted that the administration only began settling into office early this year, which caused delays in rolling out some programs.
“Even by January 1, 2025, the government was not fully in place. It takes time to assemble a team, plan, and implement projects. Agriculture is time-sensitive production cycles cannot be rushed,” Dr. Karewe added.
The economist emphasized that initial challenges are normal, and the true benefits of initiatives like Nkoko Nkiti Nkiti are likely to become visible from 2026 onwards.
