Govt earmarks GH¢2.9bn for agriculture in 2027 Budget

The government has allocated GH¢2.9 billion to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in the 2027 Budget to support farmers with agricultural machinery, improved seeds, fertiliser, irrigation infrastructure and storage facilities.

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced the allocation during his presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026, describing the investment as part of efforts to help farmers increase production and strengthen food security.

Of the allocation, GH¢800 million will be used to procure agricultural machinery for the second phase of the Farmer Service Centres, while GH¢515 million has been set aside to provide fertiliser and certified seeds for the production of grains, vegetables, roots and tubers.

The government has also earmarked GH¢500 million for the construction of silos to improve food procurement and storage, alongside GH¢245 million for the Poultry Farm-to-Table project.

Another GH¢200 million will go to the National Food Buffer Stock Company, with GH¢105 million allocated to ongoing irrigation projects and GH¢60 million dedicated to the Feed Ghana Programme.

Dr Forson said increasing domestic food production and processing would deliver benefits beyond the agricultural sector, including improved rural incomes, lower inflationary pressures and reduced demand for foreign exchange.

“When Ghana grows more of what it eats, processes more of what it grows and exports more of what it makes, rural prosperity will rise, inflation will become easier to control, and the cedi will face less pressure,” he said.

Agriculture is also a major component of the government's New Economy programme, which is expected to run from 2027 to 2030. According to the Finance Minister, US$3 billion out of the planned US$10 billion investment will be channelled into commercial agriculture.

The government has also set a target of ending commercial rice imports by 2030 as part of its broader strategy to expand local production.

The planned investment comes against the backdrop of a slowdown in agricultural growth. Data from the Ghana Statistical Service indicates that the sector expanded by 2.6 per cent in August 2026, compared with 8.6 per cent during the corresponding period in 2025 and 3.7 per cent in July 2026.

Beyond agriculture, the 2027 Budget has allocated GH¢3.1 billion to the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, including GH¢3 billion for the expansion of rural electrification to 6 regions. The initiative is expected to support farming communities that require reliable electricity for processing and preserving agricultural produce.

The agricultural allocations are intended to address production costs, improve access to machinery and inputs, strengthen food storage and secure domestic supplies. Investments in silos and the National Food Buffer Stock Company are particularly expected to help minimise post-harvest losses and improve the stability of food supplies.

However, the Budget did not specify timelines for the delivery of the proposed storage facilities and other interventions.