Stakeholders in Ghana’s agricultural sector are urging the government to accelerate the implementation of key initiatives announced in the 2026 Budget, arguing that many farmers have yet to benefit from the promised interventions.
Their appeal comes after Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson presented the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review, with farmers maintaining that rising production costs continue to undermine food security and efforts to lower food prices.
Council Member and former President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Wepia Awal Adugwala, said major agricultural programmes, including the establishment of 50 Farmers’ Service Centres, the construction of 1,000 kilometres of farm roads, and the expansion of irrigation infrastructure, have either seen slow progress or are yet to be fully implemented.
Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Adugwala said farmers are still waiting to see the impact of these initiatives, stressing that the high cost of farm machinery remains a major burden.
“On paper, inflation may appear stable, but the reality for farmers is very different. The cost of machinery is too high, and this directly affects how much food can be sold on the market,” he said.
He also identified limited access to affordable credit as a major setback, explaining that many financial institutions are unwilling to provide loans to farmers, making it difficult for them to invest in modern equipment or expand production.
Mr. Adugwala warned that without decisive action to reduce production costs and improve access to financing, efforts to stabilise food prices would remain challenging.
The poultry sector has also expressed similar concerns. Immediate past President of the Poultry Farmers Association of Ghana, Napoleon Agyeman, said the lack of affordable credit continues to hinder the growth of poultry farming.
According to him, many small-scale poultry farmers cannot afford mechanised equipment and are forced to rely on labour-intensive methods, increasing production costs and affecting the prices of poultry products.
“This situation affects productivity and ultimately impacts the prices of poultry products on the market,” he stated.
Mr. Agyeman called on the government, financial institutions, and development partners to introduce affordable loan schemes with flexible repayment terms to enable farmers to increase production and improve efficiency.
The farmers believe that while the government’s policy commitments are promising, their success will depend on how quickly they are implemented and whether they provide meaningful support to farmers across the country.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar