Arise Ghana has held a press conference to assess the government’s agricultural policy reforms, highlighting what it says are key achievements, gaps and recommendations needed to improve Ghana’s food security and the livelihoods of farmers.
The presentation was delivered by a leading member of the group, Comrade Dzramado Selorm Dramani, as part of Arise Ghana’s broader assessment of the government’s performance in office. He said the agricultural sector remains critical to Ghana’s economy, particularly in addressing food security, reducing the cost of living, creating jobs and improving the incomes of farmers.
According to Mr. Dramani, Ghana’s agricultural sector continues to face challenges including limited access to affordable finance, inadequate access to quality agricultural inputs, high production and import costs, market inefficiencies and unfair practices. He said Arise Ghana therefore undertook an assessment to determine what is working, what requires improvement and the potential impact of the government’s current interventions.
Inputs and Farmer Support
Arise Ghana acknowledged government efforts to increase farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and support production. The group highlighted fertilizer distribution, mechanisation and other interventions designed to support farmers, particularly smallholder producers.
It also noted the expansion of agricultural extension and farmer-support services, saying trained extension officers are expected to provide technical assistance and help farmers adopt improved farming practices.
The group further highlighted programmes targeting smallholder and vulnerable farmers, including women and other groups, with the broader objective of improving household nutrition, agricultural production and livelihoods.
Seed Sovereignty and Fertilizer Reforms
A major area highlighted by Arise Ghana is the government’s seed sovereignty and fertilizer reform programme.
The group said the reforms include investment in soil laboratories, wider soil sampling and the development of soil-specific fertilizer blends. According to Arise Ghana, moving away from blanket fertilizer application towards soil-specific recommendations could improve the efficiency of fertilizer use, reduce losses and help farmers achieve better yields.
The group said the reforms could also contribute to lower production costs and higher incomes for farmers if properly implemented and supported by effective quality control.
Livestock and Crop Production
Arise Ghana also identified the revival of livestock and strategic crop production as important components of the government’s agricultural agenda.
The group said agricultural development must go beyond the distribution of inputs and address the broader value chain, including production, storage, processing, transportation and marketing.
It stressed that farmers need access to reliable and profitable markets if increased production is to translate into improved incomes and stronger livelihoods.
Arise Ghana’s Recommendations
Arise Ghana called on government to publish measurable and verifiable targets for agricultural programmes to allow citizens to assess whether the interventions are achieving their intended objectives.
The group also recommended the establishment of a transparent public monitoring system through which citizens can track agricultural programmes and compare their implementation against commitments contained in the national budget.
It further called for the strengthening of the national farmer database to improve beneficiary targeting and reduce wastage, as well as the expansion of irrigation infrastructure.
Other recommendations include improving access to affordable agricultural finance, particularly for smallholder farmers and young agribusiness entrepreneurs, strengthening agricultural extension services and providing extension officers with adequate logistics.
The group also urged government to improve agricultural marketing systems to connect farmers to reliable and profitable markets, while investing in storage and processing facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.
Arise Ghana called for greater participation of young people in agricultural programmes and urged government to institutionalise successful agricultural reforms so that they can continue beyond changes in political administration.
‘Measure Success by Results’
Comrade Dramani stressed that the success of agricultural reforms should not be measured simply by the number of bags of fertilizer, tractors or other inputs distributed.
He said the more important indicators should be increased food production, improved farmer incomes, lower food prices, reduced dependence on food imports, job creation and stronger national food security.
Arise Ghana therefore urged citizens to demand evidence of the impact of government’s agricultural interventions while encouraging constructive feedback.
The group said agriculture should be treated as a national development priority and that successful interventions should be supported regardless of political affiliation, rather than having every agricultural initiative reduced to partisan political debate.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe