By: Maltiti Sayida Sadick
The Director of Presidential Initiatives on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, Speaking on GTV Breakfast Show with host Maltiti Sayida Sadick, outlined key government interventions aimed at transforming Ghana’s agricultural sector through value addition, mechanisation, and macroeconomic stability.
Dr. Otokunor noted that Ghana’s farmers remain heavily dependent on imported pesticides, weedicides, and mechanised equipment, stressing that stabilising the cedi and broader macroeconomic indicators is critical to reducing production costs.
According to him, the government has allocated GH₵200 million in the 2026 budget to the National Buffer Stock Company, with a clear directive that food supplied to schools must be sourced from smallholder farmers. He said this policy is designed to guarantee markets for local farmers while strengthening food security.
Dr. Otokunor highlighted that Ghana is positioning itself as an ethanol hub, with maize now being processed into ethanol, describing agro-processing as the best path to sustaining jobs and lowering food prices.
“When the cost of production comes down, you can reduce the cost of your products and still maintain jobs,” he explained.
He cited a personal example to illustrate the impact of improved production systems, revealing that the price of a bag of milled soya beans had dropped from GH₵550 in 2024 to GH₵320 currently.
The Director also announced the introduction of Youth Agriculture Estates, where young people will live and work on farms to promote skills transfer and modern farming practices.
Another major intervention is the establishment of 24-hour markets in every district, allowing trading even at night and giving local produce access to global markets.
On irrigation, Dr. Otokunor said government is scaling up efforts under the “Irrigation for Wealth” programme to ensure year-round farming and increased productivity.
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Source:
www.gbcghanaonline.com