Examining the constraints and drivers of the performance of Ghana's Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme

This study interrogates the constraints and determinants of Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme in Ghana. Using collected data from a random sample of 398 farmers during the 2017 and 2019 production seasons, the study employed Kendall's coefficient of concordance to investigate the constraints associated with the PFJ pillars. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the determinants of the PFJ programme on various outcome indicators such as yield per kilogram and gross income. The results reveal that farmers face different constraints within each pillar of the PFJ programme. Inadequate access to designated PFJ input shops, delayed arrival of fertilizers and improved seeds, and the absence of well-established market system to sell produce at competitive prices were identified as the primary constraints reported by farmers. The findings indicate that education, marital status, farm size, membership in farmer-based organizations, and off-farm activities significantly influence the outcomes of the PFJ programme. The study highlights the presence of heterogeneities, suggesting that different factors contribute to the outcomes of the PFJ programme. This underscores the need for policymakers and stakeholders to develop strategies that address identified constraints and enhance the effectiveness of the PFJ program.