Experts have called for increased innovation in precision farming and stronger regulatory support to modernise Ghana’s agriculture sector, ensuring long-term food security and sustainability.
The discussions come in the wake of several government-led initiatives, such as the Feed Ghana Programme, Feed Industry Programme, Agriculture for Jobs, and the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), aimed at boosting food production and strengthening national food systems.
However, speakers at the event warned that challenges such as illegal mining, extreme weather patterns, and global trade tensions continue to pose significant threats to Ghana’s food security.
In response, they urged a nationwide shift toward organic farming, the adoption of data-driven technologies, increased financial investment, and policy reforms to safeguard the sector.
Professor Kester Quist-Aphetsi, Chair of the National Cyber Intelligence and Cyber Defence Research Project, highlighted the transformative role artificial intelligence (AI) can play in agriculture.
“Soon, sensors will be able to communicate with external systems to analyse the impact of specific food consumption patterns. This kind of technology will be crucial not only for farming but also for improving food storage,” he explained.
Prof. Quist-Aphetsi stressed the importance of precision agriculture, which uses technology to optimise farming inputs, reduce waste, and improve crop yields.
“This approach goes beyond better harvests, it offers a sustainable future for a country where agriculture is still the backbone of the economy,” he said.
He also noted that Ghanaian university students are already developing homegrown precision agriculture solutions, which could reduce dependence on expensive foreign technologies.
“With the right support for these innovations, Ghana could emerge as a leader in agricultural technology across Africa,” he added.
Adding to the conversation, Prof. Francis Atsu, a Climate Risk Professional, advocated for a holistic integration of climate change strategies with land, water, and energy systems.
He called for a move away from synthetic chemicals towards organic and climate-resilient practices.
“Ghana must align with global agricultural trends, this includes using early-maturing seeds, harvesting rainwater for irrigation, and investing in natural farming systems,” he urged.
Stanbic Bank Ghana CEO, Kwamena Asomaning, warned that failure to reform now could worsen hunger and inflation in the near future.
“To avoid a deeper crisis, we must strengthen rural storage, expand irrigation, introduce targeted financing, support agritech, and implement forward-thinking government policies,” he said.
