Sustaining irrigation requires investing in irrigation, food storage – Gov’t Statistician

Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, has called for sustained investment in irrigation systems, food storage infrastructure, and rural transport networks to consolidate recent inflation gains and ensure lasting price stability.

Speaking in Accra, Dr Iddrisu emphasised that while Ghana’s inflation rate had fallen to single digits for the first time in four years, dropping to 9.4 per cent in September 2025 from 11.5 per cent in August, this progress could be short-lived unless structural weaknesses in the agricultural supply chain are urgently addressed.

He explained that seasonal food price fluctuations remain a major threat to inflation stability, driven largely by uneven rainfall patterns, post-harvest losses, and poor logistics across farming communities.

“We should invest in irrigation to smooth out farming seasons, support year-round production, and reduce rainfall-related risks for staples like yam, cassava, rice, and vegetables,” Dr Iddrisu stated.

He observed that while some food crops are currently recording very low inflation rates, others are experiencing sharp increases, a sign of the structural imbalance in Ghana’s food production and distribution system.

The Government Statistician noted that investment in cold chain and dry storage systems is vital to prevent food spoilage and stabilise market supply during lean seasons.

“Food storage has been a long-standing issue. We need to strengthen both cold and dry storage facilities and build a reliable transport network to connect farmers to markets,” he said.

Dr Iddrisu also identified rural transport inefficiencies as a critical factor that restricts farmers’ access to urban markets, often leading to artificial price hikes and regional disparities in food prices.

Economists estimate that food inflation accounts for a significant portion of Ghana’s overall inflation, with much of it tied to weather-dependent production cycles. The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) attributes the recent moderation in prices partly to improved harvests and better supply flows, but warns that these gains could erode during the dry season without sustained investment in infrastructure.

“Some of the inflation decline we are seeing now reflects temporary improvements. Without targeted investment in irrigation and logistics, we risk reversing these gains once the dry season begins,” Dr Iddrisu cautioned.

He called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the private sector, and development partners to scale up infrastructure that supports consistent food production and efficient distribution.