The agriculture sector, which is described as the backbone of Ghana’s economy, but receives less attention in national policies, has been noted to have been given some priority in the 2026 Budget.
This is the verdict of an economist and lecturer at the Academic City University, Dr. Paul Appiah-Konadu.
After reviewing the budget, the economist describes the initiatives introduced for implementation in 2026 as bold, practical, and beautiful. He maintains that if genuinely implemented, the interventions could support a shift in the livelihoods of Ghanaians and the economy for the better.
Dr. Paul Appiah-Konadu, reacting to the measures, said the new allocations, ranging from a massive push into oil palm development to heavy investment in farm machinery and market support, could become turning points for rural jobs, food production, and economic stability if implemented well.
A $500 Million Bet on Oil Palm – “A Sleeping Giant Finally Awakened”
In an interaction with The High Street Journal, Dr. Appiah-Konadu praised the government’s $500 million investment into the palm oil plantation programme, describing oil palm as one of Ghana’s most promising crops that has been underutilized for too long.
He explains that the national policy on integrated oil palm development, if fully executed, could open tens of thousands of jobs across farming, processing, transportation, and exports.
To him, this is how a country can build a strong agricultural economy, thus pick a crop with real potential and support it end-to-end.
“The government has allocated about 500 million dollars, which is very key, because palm oil has a lot of potential, and I think if we are able to make do with the national policy on integrated oil palm development, that will so much create opportunities for employment in the agriculture sector, especially in the oil palm sector, and that will significantly contribute to the economy,” he noted.
Farm Mechanisation Centres: Relief for Small Farmers
Another intervention that stood out for the economist is the rollout of farm mechanisation centres equipped with 660 tractors, 200 mini-tractors, and 50 harvesters.
Dr. Appiah-Konadu said smaller farmers, especially those in the rice and maize value chains, have long struggled with manual labour and high production costs. With this support, he believes, it is a practical way of giving farmers the needed mechanization tools to expand.
It is expected that, with this intervention, a farmer who once harvested one acre can now do five or ten. That alone boosts food production across the country.
He said, “this intervention will so much support smaller farmers across the country, those in the rice value chain, in the maize value chain, to boost production of food across the country.”
GH¢200m for Buffer Stock: A Lifeline for Local Producers
Perhaps the most “refreshing” intervention, in his view, is the GH¢200 million allocation to the National Food Buffer Stock Company to purchase excess rice, maize, eggs, and similar products from local farmers.
He noted that this move protects farmers from post-harvest losses and ensures their produce remains in demand, especially for major government feeding programmes like the Free SHS and School Feeding Programme.
In insists that Ghana cannot have farmers producing and then begging for buyers while schools import foreign rice. He is therefore elated this policy, if thoroughly implemented, will help fix the glut farmers are currently experiencing.
“We cannot have a glut by local producers, whiles we supply foreign rice to senior high schools, for instance. This is a very beautiful intervention, and I think if we’re able to make do with that, that will so much increase productivity in our rice value chain, in our maize value chain, poultry production, and related sectors, which is very important,” he stressed.
A Chance to Transform Local Production
While enthusiastic, Dr. Appiah-Konadu also hinted that the success of these interventions will depend heavily on discipline and effective implementation.
In his estimation, these are powerful ideas. If the country really want to create jobs and fight against food insecurity, he says the government must implement these policies effectively.
He believes that Ghana’s rice, maize, poultry, and palm oil sectors will grow stronger and jobs will grow, rural incomes will rise and the whole economy will benefits.
The economist’s verdict on the 2026 Budget Agric interventions is that the policies have huge potential to be transformative, but only if Ghana gets the implementation right.
