Farmer groups say single-digit budget shares and delayed fund releases continue to hold back domestic food production and feed storage.

Published 6 Nov 2026, 08:02 GMT

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The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) and the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association are demanding at least 10 per cent of the 2027 national budget for the agricultural sector.

"The minimum that we expect Ghana to do is the 10%. For us, it is non-negotiable," Nortey said, noting that single-digit percentage shares in previous budgets and late releases of approved funds have weakened food security interventions.

The Maputo and Malabo 10% commitment

Under the African Union's 2003 Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security—and reaffirmed in the 2014 Malabo Declaration—member states committed to allocate at least 10 per cent of annual public expenditure to agriculture and rural development to drive 6 per cent annual sector growth.

Nortey said that although Ghana signed onto CAADP in 2003, successive budgets have fallen short of consistent double-digit percentage allocations.

In the 2026 Budget, agriculture received an estimated GH¢13.9 billion, an increase of GH¢1.5 billion over the 2025 allocation.

It also provided for 200 boreholes powered by solar energy and repairs to livestock stations. Farmer groups say delays in releasing the money reduced the impact of these measures.

Share of the US$10 billion New Economy plan

Nortey argued that at least half of the funds earmarked for the New Economy initiative should go into agriculture to stimulate domestic production and agro-processing.

"In fact, 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.

Mohammed Ali, who leads the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association as Chief Executive Officer, called for storage facilities for maize and soya beans. He also urged guaranteed buying arrangements linking crop farmers with feed millers.

"The local producer of the soya and maize, what they are expecting from us as a feed miller, when we talk to them about that, when there's a guarantee, any time we produce, there's an off-taker."

"That reduces their burden," Ali said, adding that reliable local feed supplies would cut poultry production costs and stabilise food prices.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

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