Farmers and other agriculture stakeholders have called on the government to allocate a minimum of 10% of the 2027 national budget to the sector, arguing that persistent underfunding has limited efforts to improve food security and boost production.
The demand comes ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy. Stakeholders point out that single‑digit allocations in previous budgets have failed to provide the resources needed to tackle longstanding challenges across the sector.
In 2026, the government earmarked several interventions to lift agricultural output, including 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. However, funding constraints and delays in releasing approved allocations continue to undermine the implementation and impact of these initiatives.
Agriculture received an estimated GH¢13.9 billion in the 2026 Budget, a rise of GH¢1.5 billion over the previous year. Despite the increase, farmers insist that more investment is needed to close the sector’s funding gaps.
Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, said the government must honour its commitment under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which calls on African Union member states to allocate at least 10% of their national budgets to agriculture. “Ghana has been a signatory to this programme since 2003, but we have not had any consistent percentage allocation to the sector,” Nortey told Citi Business News. “For us, the minimum that we expect Ghana to do is the 10%. For us, it is non‑negotiable.”
Nortey also urged the government to translate its New Economy Agenda into increased public investment in agriculture, arguing that the sector must receive a significant share of resources earmarked for the initiative to stimulate broader economic growth. “If allocations to that new economy, in terms of financial allocation, anything less than 50% of that allocation not going to the sector is dead on arrival,” he said.
Poultry farmers are calling for increased investment in storage infrastructure for agricultural commodities, particularly maize, to reduce feed production costs. Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association, Mohammed Ali, said improving local production and storage, alongside guaranteed markets for maize and soybean farmers, would strengthen the poultry value chain. “When we can do it locally and do it cheaply and abundantly, we can have a very good chat,” Ali noted. “If there’s a guarantee, any time we produce, there’s an off‑taker. That reduces their burden.”
The stakeholders contend that higher budgetary allocations, backed by timely releases of approved funds, will be critical to improving agricultural productivity, expanding local food production and easing food costs for consumers.
