The rising cost of vegetables and food crops in Accra has led some residents to turn to home gardening as a solution, despite challenges with space. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, vegetable prices have surged significantly, prompting many to explore alternative ways to access fresh produce. However, the lack of available land for gardening has become a major obstacle for residents.
In several suburbs, communal gardens once flourished on government-owned land, where people grew vegetables like peppers and cabbages. But, as Mr. Boahene, a local resident, explains, these lands have now been taken over by stores and kiosks, forcing many urban farmers to abandon their crops. “Those who once planted crops on these lands have been displaced,” he lamented.
Long-time resident Sister Grace shared her experience, noting how easy it used to be to access vegetables from communal gardens. “Now, the area is overcrowded, and there’s no land left for gardening,” she said. She has managed to maintain a small garden at home, but space constraints only allow her to plant plantains.
Others, like Auntie Josephine, are fortunate to have a bit more space. She grows papaya (pawpaw), coconuts, and other crops to help mitigate the high cost of vegetables but admits her small garden still falls short of meeting her household’s full needs.
For residents like Mr. Iddrisu, who has no space for gardening, relying on family members from rural areas to send food crops has become essential. “I can’t garden here, and the prices in these areas are too high,” he explained, adding that the flood-prone nature of some suburbs makes home gardening difficult. Many, including Mr. Iddrisu, are forced to travel to distant markets for produce, often spending more than they would have in the past when government land was available for harvesting.
While home gardening offers some relief to those with space, the rising food prices continue to pose significant challenges for many in Accra. Crop Scientist and University of Cape Coast lecturer, Dr. Kwukucher Ackah, acknowledges that though gardening provides some respite, many still rely on family supplies from rural areas or purchase from faraway markets like Abobloshie to meet their needs.
