Prof Irene Egyir, an agricultural economist at the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists, has called on the government to increase investment in commercial agriculture and rural infrastructure in the 2027 Budget.
She says farmers need reliable roads, electricity, water and affordable credit to expand their businesses. The 2027 Budget is scheduled to be presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
Prof Egyir argues that agricultural investment should extend beyond production, processing and distribution to include the local economies in which farming activities take place. She expects the government to increase funding to address outstanding projects and infrastructure needs, from GHS 14 billion last year to GHS 28 billion this year.
She also called for targeted support for young graduates who want to enter agriculture as entrepreneurs.
The agricultural economist further urged the government to maintain stable macroeconomic conditions to enable farmers to plan, borrow and manage their operating costs. She called for access to loans at lower interest rates and sustained efforts to keep inflation under control.
Prof Egyir said commercial farmers required more than direct financial support to operate successfully, stressing the importance of basic infrastructure in rural communities.
Prof Egyir welcomed initiatives aimed at improving access to education and credit, particularly for women in agriculture. She said existing interventions such as free fertiliser were important for smallholder farmers but did not necessarily address the needs of graduates seeking to establish commercially viable agricultural businesses.
The government should address the different stages of the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, input supply and distribution.