Agriculture stakeholders are calling for increased investment in farming in the 2027 Budget, arguing that stronger local production could improve food supply and ease costs for consumers.

They want the government to allocate at least 10% of the national budget to agriculture and ensure the timely release of approved funds.

They argue that inadequate funding and delays in disbursing funds continue to constrain the growth of the sector.

The Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, said the allocation should reflect Ghana’s commitment under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), which sets a minimum target of 10% of national budget expenditure for agriculture.

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Speaking to Citi News ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget, he said farmers would continue to press the government to meet that commitment.

“The minimum that we expect Ghana to do is the 10%. For us, it is non-negotiable,” he stated.

Agriculture received an estimated GH¢13.9 billion in the 2026 Budget, representing an increase of about GH¢1.5 billion over the previous year. However, stakeholders say the increase has not addressed the sector’s funding gaps.

The 2026 Budget included plans to establish 50 Farmer Service Centres, construct 200 solar-powered boreholes, rehabilitate livestock stations and allocate GH¢200 million to the National Food Buffer Stock Company.

However, stakeholders say funding constraints and delays in releasing allocated resources have limited the impact of these interventions.

Nortey also called for agriculture to receive at least half of the funding earmarked for the government's proposed New Economy Agenda. He argued that increased investment in the sector would help drive growth across the wider economy.

Meanwhile, poultry farmers are calling for more storage facilities for maize and other feed ingredients.

They say inadequate storage contributes to supply shortages and high feed prices, increasing the cost of poultry production.

DR/MA

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