Every meal on a Ghanaian table begins long before it reaches the market, in the soil where crops grow, the seeds farmers plant, and the water that keeps farms alive.
But for years, challenges in these areas have quietly shaped the cost and availability of food, leaving farmers battling declining soil quality, expensive inputs and unpredictable weather conditions.
Dr. Frank Ackah, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Crop Science, believes some recent government interventions could help change that trajectory, describing investments in organic fertilizer, locally developed seeds and irrigation as critical steps toward building a stronger agricultural future.
Speaking with The High Street Journal, Dr. Ackah praised government’s focus on strengthening the foundations of food production, saying the interventions address some of the underlying issues affecting Ghana’s farmers.
He welcomed government’s procurement of 300 metric tonnes each of maize and Agyapa rice seeds developed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), describing the move as a boost for Ghana’s agricultural research system.
According to him, Ghanaian researchers have developed improved varieties of crops, including maize, rice and cassava, but sustaining these innovations has remained a challenge due to limited resources.
He said government’s decision to purchase locally developed seeds would encourage further research while reducing dependence on imported planting materials.
Dr. Ackah also commended government’s acquisition of 96,000 litres of organic fertilizer, saying the move could help restore the health of Ghana’s soils.
He explained that years of heavy reliance on inorganic fertilizer have contributed to soil degradation, affecting the long-term productivity of farmland.
“Most of our soil has been destroyed because of some of these activities farmers have been embarking on,” he said, adding that organic fertilizer can help restore soil quality by improving microbial activity.
The crop scientist also highlighted irrigation investment as a critical intervention at a time when climate change is making farming increasingly unpredictable.
With changing rainfall patterns and recent flooding affecting farms, Dr. Ackah said Ghana can no longer rely solely on rain-fed agriculture.
“Because of climate change, you cannot rely on the rain,” he said, arguing that expanding irrigation will give farmers greater control over production and improve food security.
He also welcomed government’s grain purchasing efforts under the National Food Buffer Stock Company, saying the initiative could provide farmers with a reliable market while helping to strengthen national food reserves.
For Dr. Ackah, the future of Ghana’s agriculture will depend not only on producing more food today, but on protecting the systems that will allow future generations to continue farming tomorrow.
