Agricultural stakeholders in Ghana are calling on the government to allocate at least 10% of the 2027 national budget to the agriculture sector, warning that inadequate funding continues to undermine food security, local food production and efforts to improve farmers’ livelihoods.
The demand comes ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, with farmers insisting that increased government investment is necessary to address persistent challenges facing the agricultural industry.
According to stakeholders, the single-digit budgetary allocations recorded in previous years have not provided sufficient financial resources to improve agricultural productivity, expand food production and strengthen Ghana’s food supply chain.
Although the government introduced several interventions in the 2026 Budget to support the sector, farmers believe more funding is required to achieve meaningful results.
The planned interventions included the construction of 50 Farmer Service Centres, a GH¢200 million allocation to the National Food Buffer Stock Company, the installation of 200 solar-powered boreholes and the rehabilitation of livestock stations.
Agriculture received an estimated GH¢13.9 billion in the 2026 national budget, representing an increase of GH¢1.5 billion compared with the previous year’s allocation.
However, agricultural stakeholders argue that inadequate funding and delays in releasing approved government allocations continue to affect the implementation of critical agricultural programmes.
Peasant Farmers Association Demands 10% Budget Allocation
The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, has urged the government to fulfil its obligations under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which requires African Union member states to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture.
Speaking to Citi Business News, Mr Nortey explained that Ghana has been a signatory to the continental agricultural development programme since 2003 but has not consistently achieved the recommended 10% budget allocation.
He described the target as the minimum investment required to transform the country’s agricultural sector and address longstanding funding challenges.
According to him, the association’s position remains unchanged, insisting that Ghana must prioritise agriculture in its national development agenda.
Mr Nortey stated that allocating less than 10% of the national budget to agriculture would continue to limit the sector’s ability to deliver sustainable economic growth and improve food security.
Farmers Want Agriculture to Benefit from Mahama’s New Economy Agenda
Mr Nortey has also called on the government to make agriculture a major beneficiary of its New Economy Agenda, arguing that the sector has the potential to drive economic transformation, create employment opportunities and increase Ghana’s domestic food production.
He believes a substantial proportion of the financial resources earmarked for the New Economy initiative should be invested in agriculture to stimulate growth across the economy.
The Peasant Farmers Association executive director further argued that agriculture must receive at least 50% of the funding allocated to the initiative, warning that any lower investment would undermine its expected impact.
He stressed that increased investment in farming, agro-processing and agricultural infrastructure would be essential to achieving the government’s economic development objectives.
Poultry Farmers Call for More Investment in Maize and Soybean Storage
Meanwhile, poultry industry stakeholders are urging the government to increase investment in agricultural storage infrastructure, particularly facilities for maize and soybeans, to reduce the cost of poultry feed production.
The poultry industry continues to face high production costs, with expensive animal feed remaining one of the major challenges confronting local poultry farmers.
Stakeholders say inadequate storage facilities contribute to supply shortages, price instability and increased feed costs, making it difficult for domestic poultry producers to compete effectively.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association, Mohammed Ali, believes improving local maize and soybean production, alongside investment in storage infrastructure, would strengthen Ghana’s poultry value chain.
He also called for guaranteed markets and reliable off-taker arrangements for local maize and soybean farmers to encourage increased production.
According to him, farmers would be more willing to expand their operations if they were assured that feed millers and other buyers would purchase their agricultural commodities.
He explained that stronger partnerships between crop farmers and poultry feed manufacturers would help reduce supply uncertainties, improve access to raw materials and lower the cost of producing animal feed.
Increased Agricultural Funding Key to Lower Food Prices
Agricultural stakeholders maintain that increasing the sector’s share of the 2027 national budget, alongside ensuring timely disbursement of approved funds, is critical to improving productivity and strengthening Ghana’s food security.
They believe greater government investment in agricultural infrastructure, irrigation, storage facilities, livestock development and local food production would help reduce dependence on imported food products.
The proposed 10% budget allocation is also expected to support farmers, create employment opportunities, strengthen agro-processing businesses and improve the availability of affordable food for Ghanaian households.
As preparations continue for the 2027 Budget Statement, farmers are urging the government to translate its agricultural development commitments into adequate financial support to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
Source: newsthemegh.com