Ghana must urgently adopt a market-focused agribusiness strategy that prioritizes access to finance, land, and markets if it is to unlock the full potential of its smallholder farmers and compete effectively in the global agribusiness economy, economist and agribusiness advocate Dr. Peter Boamah Otukunor has said.
Dr. Otukunor warned that Ghana’s agriculture sector risks stagnation unless policymakers shift from a production-based model to a value-driven, market-oriented approach that integrates farmers into viable value chains and regional trade networks.
“We can no longer treat agriculture as a subsistence activity,” he said. “Agriculture must be seen as a business one that is responsive to market signals, consumer demand, and global competitiveness.”
According to him, while Ghana continues to invest heavily in agricultural inputs and extension services, the missing link remains access to finance, land, and markets that would allow smallholder farmers to scale up production and transition into profitable agribusinesses.
Dr. Otukunor emphasized that smallholder farmers, who make up more than 60% of Ghana’s agricultural workforce, remain excluded from formal credit systems due to high interest rates, collateral requirements, and perceived risk.
“Without accessible and affordable financing, our farmers cannot invest in modern equipment, irrigation systems, or quality inputs. The result is low productivity and dependence on rain-fed, low-yield farming systems,” he explained.
He called on the government and financial institutions to redesign agricultural financing models to align with the realities of smallholders including blended finance, micro-leasing, and cooperative credit schemes that can de-risk lending and attract private investment into rural agriculture.
Dr. Otukunor also highlighted land tenure insecurity as a major structural bottleneck holding back agribusiness development.
Many smallholders, particularly women and youth, face difficulty acquiring or leasing land long-term, making it nearly impossible to use land as collateral or plan for sustainable investment.
“Land must become a productive asset, not a social inheritance,” he stated. “We need policy reforms that simplify land acquisition, protect tenure rights, and make land markets more transparent.”
He added that digitization of land records and decentralization of land administration could significantly reduce disputes and open opportunities for agribusiness partnerships between smallholders and investors.
The third pillar of Dr. Otukunor’s proposed strategy focuses on market access and value addition.
He argued that Ghana’s agriculture has for too long been disconnected from consumer and export markets, leading to gluts, post-harvest losses, and price volatility.
“We must build an agribusiness ecosystem where farmers produce for the market, not just for survival,” he noted. “That means investing in logistics, processing, cold storage, and regional trade infrastructure that connect farmers to buyers in Ghana and across West Africa.”
He cited the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a major opportunity for Ghanaian agribusinesses to scale regionally but warned that this can only happen if farmers are integrated into structured value chains supported by quality standards, certification systems, and reliable supply networks.
Dr. Otukunor urged the government to adopt a comprehensive agribusiness transformation strategy that harmonizes the roles of ministries, financial institutions, private investors, and development partners.
He said such a strategy should place smallholders at the center of Ghana’s quest for food security, rural development, and industrial growth.
“Our goal should be to move from an input-subsidy economy to a market-oriented agribusiness economy, one that attracts youth, empowers women, and delivers inclusive prosperity,” he said.
