By Alex Ababio
Can irrigation, improved seeds and poultry investments finally transform Ghana’s agriculture, reduce food imports and create sustainable jobs?
That was one of the biggest messages delivered by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson when he presented the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review to Parliament. The government says billions of cedis are being directed into irrigation infrastructure, mechanisation, livestock development and farmer support under the Feed Ghana Programme.
The announcement comes at a time when Ghana continues to battle high food inflation, climate change, erratic rainfall, rising import bills and declining productivity in several farming communities. While government insists the investments will strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imports, agricultural experts have repeatedly argued that success will depend not only on spending but also on efficient implementation, maintenance of infrastructure, access to markets and continuous extension services.
An investigation by Ghanaian Watch examines the government’s latest claims, places them within Ghana’s broader agricultural development agenda, and compares them with findings from international institutions, agricultural experts and public policy documents.
Government says irrigation projects are nearing completion
Presenting the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review in Parliament, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced that construction works under the Afram Plains Economic Enclave Irrigation Project were making significant progress.
According to him, irrigation facilities at Atonsu, Ekyeamanfrom and Konadu have reached between 80 and 92 percent completion.
Once completed, the projects are expected to provide approximately 3,330 hectares of irrigable land, expanding year-round farming and reducing dependence on rainfall.
The Minister further disclosed that Phase III of the Tamne Irrigation Project has reached 75 percent completion, while rehabilitation works at the Vea, Ashaiman, Aveyime and Dawhenya irrigation schemes are also progressing steadily.
The renewed investment reflects government’s effort to expand irrigation coverage in a country where only a small proportion of Ghana’s irrigation potential has historically been developed.
According to the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Ghana possesses hundreds of thousands of hectares suitable for irrigation, yet only a fraction is currently under formal irrigation systems, making rainfall variability one of agriculture’s biggest risks.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has consistently emphasized that expanding irrigation remains one of the most effective ways to increase crop productivity, improve climate resilience and stabilize food production across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Feed Ghana Programme becomes government’s flagship intervention
Beyond irrigation, Dr. Forson said government continues to prioritize agriculture through the Feed Ghana Programme, which focuses on:
– Increasing crop productivity;
– Import substitution;
– Job creation;
– Livestock development;
– Irrigation expansion;
– Mechanisation.
As part of the programme, government procured:
– 300 metric tonnes of maize seed;
– 300 metric tonnes of Agyapa rice seed developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR);
– 96,000 litres of organic fertilizer, with 24,000 litres already distributed by June 2026;
– 18,684 metric tonnes of inorganic fertilizer for distribution to farmers.
Dr. Forson also announced that:
«”500 District Feed Ghana Brigade Officers have been temporarily engaged to improve farmer registration, extension services and field monitoring. Government would also provide 500 motorbikes to strengthen agricultural service delivery across the country.”»
Agricultural economists have long identified weak extension services as one of the biggest constraints affecting smallholder farmers across Ghana.
The World Bank, in several reports on Ghana’s agriculture sector, has argued that improved extension services, digital farmer registration and access to quality inputs are essential to improving agricultural productivity and farmer incomes.
School farms return as government targets future farmers
Government is also attempting to revive practical agriculture education through the National School Farm Initiative.
According to the Finance Minister, 500 Senior High Schools have already registered to receive:
– Improved seeds;
– Fertilizers;
– Agrochemicals;
– Technical support.
The objective is to expose students to practical farming while encouraging youth participation in agriculture.
Agricultural development experts have repeatedly warned that Ghana’s farming population is ageing rapidly, making youth participation critical for future food security.
The FAO has consistently recommended greater investment in youth-led agriculture, innovation and agribusiness development to sustain food production across Africa.
Poultry sector receives renewed investment
Reducing Ghana’s dependence on imported chicken remains another major government objective.
Dr. Forson disclosed that 70 anchor farmers have been selected under the Poultry Farm-to-Table Project.
He further announced that approximately:
– Two million day-old chicks have already been brooded and distributed across 10 regions.
– Procurement has started for another four million day-old chicks.
– Government is also procuring 500,000 Kuroiler birds to strengthen domestic poultry production.
The Finance Minister also reported that:
– 47.35 million doses of veterinary vaccines have been procured.
– 7.14 million doses have been produced locally.
He stated:
«”The investments we are making are strengthening agricultural production, creating jobs and reducing the country’s dependence on food imports. We remain committed to supporting farmers and agribusinesses to expand production and improve incomes.”»
According to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana imports a substantial share of the poultry consumed locally every year, particularly frozen chicken, making domestic poultry expansion a strategic priority for reducing import expenditure.
Industry groups including the Ghana National Association of Poultry Farmers (GNAPF) have repeatedly called for sustained government support, affordable feed, access to credit and stronger market protection to enable local producers compete with imported poultry products.
Buffer stock purchases aim to stabilize food supply
The Finance Minister also announced that the National Food Buffer Stock Company purchased more than 20,000 metric tonnes of grains during the first half of 2026.
Government expects total grain reserves to increase to about 32,000 metric tonnes before the end of the year.
Food reserve systems are considered important policy tools during periods of supply disruptions, droughts or unexpected market shocks.
The FAO notes that strategic grain reserves can help governments respond to emergencies, stabilize prices and support food security when properly managed.
Women and youth targeted through aquaculture programme
Government is also expanding investment in fisheries through the Women and Youth in Aquaculture Programme.
According to Dr. Forson, the programme’s first phase is being implemented in 80 districts, benefiting approximately 4,000 people organized into 80 cooperative groups.
Participants are receiving training in:
– Aquaculture production;
– Financial management;
– Entrepreneurship;
– Business planning.
Government says partnerships with private companies and financial institutions will improve beneficiaries’ access to financing, technical support and markets.
The intervention aligns with recommendations from the WorldFish Center and the FAO, both of which have highlighted aquaculture as one of Africa’s fastest-growing food production sectors capable of improving nutrition, creating employment and reducing pressure on marine fisheries.
Experts say implementation will determine success
While government’s announcements represent one of the country’s most ambitious agricultural investment packages in recent years, agricultural policy specialists have consistently stressed that spending alone does not guarantee results.
Professor Eric Yirenkyi Danquah, renowned Ghanaian plant geneticist and Founding Director of the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of improved seed systems, agricultural innovation and scientific research in raising productivity across Africa.
Similarly, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has argued that sustained investment in irrigation, research, extension services, market access and rural infrastructure produces stronger long-term agricultural growth than isolated input subsidies alone.
The World Bank has also noted that climate-smart agriculture, improved irrigation management, private sector participation and stronger agricultural value chains are critical to improving resilience against climate change.
Accountability questions remain
Although the Mid-Year Budget outlines significant investments, several accountability questions remain:
– Will all irrigation projects be completed within schedule?
– How many farmers have actually received the improved seeds and fertilizers?
– What monitoring mechanisms exist for the Feed Ghana Programme?
– Will the poultry investments significantly reduce Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported chicken?
– How will government measure increases in farmer incomes and productivity?
These are questions Parliament, civil society organizations and agricultural stakeholders are expected to monitor as implementation continues.
The road ahead
The 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review signals government’s determination to place agriculture at the centre of Ghana’s economic transformation strategy.
Large-scale irrigation projects, expanded poultry production, strategic grain reserves, school farms and aquaculture investments all have the potential to strengthen food security if effectively implemented.
However, experience from previous agricultural programmes suggests that infrastructure completion, transparency, maintenance, extension support, financing and market access will ultimately determine whether these investments produce lasting improvements for farmers.
For millions of Ghanaian farmers confronting climate change, rising production costs and uncertain markets, the real test will not be the announcements made in Parliament but the measurable impact these programmes deliver on farms and in rural communities over the coming years.If you’d like, I can also produce: