The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has urged the government to accelerate critical reforms in the agricultural sector to strengthen food security, reduce Ghana’s rising food import bill, and safeguard the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
In a statement to mark the 41st National Farmers Day, Mr Wepia Adugwala A. Addo, the National President of PFAG, congratulated all farmers, especially smallholder farmers, for their dedication to feeding the nation.
He also commended award winners at the district, regional and national levels, saying their recognition should inspire greater commitment to food production.
Mr. Addo said this year’s celebration on the theme: “Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,” aligned with the government’s agricultural transformation agenda.
He acknowledged initiatives such as the increased 2026 budget allocation to agriculture, the Feed Ghana Programme, the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” poultry initiative, and the vegetable development project, adding that these efforts were yielding positive results.
However, he noted that persistent systemic challenges continued to undermine productivity, citing the recent glut of staple crops as evidence of deep-rooted post-harvest and supply chain weaknesses requiring urgent and lasting solutions.
He said there were critical areas PFAG believed the government must prioritise to enhance productivity and protect farmers’ investments.
He called for improved production infrastructure, saying although the 2026 budget allocates GH¢105 million for irrigation and GH¢828 million for agricultural roads, he described the amounts as inadequate.
“PFAG is advocating major irrigation facilities nationwide, agricultural land banks, solar-powered irrigation, and better road networks linking food-producing areas,” he said.
He urged the government to aggressively tackle post-harvest losses and improve market linkages.
Mr. Addo welcomed efforts to strengthen the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and directives for public schools to procure local food, but indicated legislation was needed to make such directives binding.
He said there was the need for a transparent, data-driven mechanism for procurement and the development of a national crop marketing strategy to prevent recurring gluts.
He called for measures to cushion farmers against future shocks.
“Past disruptions, including COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, erratic weather patterns and market gluts have made the sector vulnerable.
“PFAG is proposing the establishment of an Agriculture Development Fund to mitigate such shocks and reduce uncertainty for farmers,” the National President added.
Mr. Addo urged a review of decentralization arrangements to better integrate agriculture into local governance.
He noted that the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) currently lacked provisions for agricultural interventions, while local agricultural officers often worked with limited logistics.
He said the Association was advocating the DACF formula to be revised to include agricultural activities.
He expressed grave concern over the growing threat of illegal mining and sand winning, which continued to destroy farmlands and water bodies.
He described the situation as alarming and damaging to the nation’s food security agenda, urging the government to take decisive action to protect farmlands from what he termed “these terrorists.”
Mr. Addo reaffirmed PFAG’s appreciation for the essential role farmers played in sustaining Ghana’s food and nutrition security.
He said while the government’s ongoing efforts were commendable, addressing these critical challenges was a national necessity.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to transform the recommendations into concrete actions, adding that building a robust, resilient and responsive agricultural ecosystem was vital for securing Ghana’s future.
By Stanley Senya