Chamber of Agribusiness Urges Government to Boost Agricultural Budget to 10% of GD
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
Ahead of the 2026 Budget presentation, the Chamber of Agribusiness has called on the government to increase the budgetary allocation to agriculture to at least 10 percent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), arguing that the current funding falls far short of the sector’s potential to drive economic growth and employment.
In the 2025 Budget, the government earmarked GH¢1.54 billion for agriculture, representing just 0.115 percent of projected GDP. According to the Chamber, such levels of funding are insufficient to address longstanding structural challenges, including weak infrastructure, low mechanisation, and limited youth participation in key production areas.
Speaking to the media, the Chief Executive of the Chamber, Anthony Morrison, emphasised that increasing the agricultural allocation to at least 10 percent of GDP would help Ghana unlock the sector’s full potential.
“I think that fundamentally, we need to increase the current 3 percent threshold of GDP to agriculture to at least 10 percent. With regards to the budget, more emphasis must be placed on addressing the weak infrastructure system that hinders growth and competitiveness, both locally and internationally,” Mr. Morrison said.
He highlighted mechanisation, youth engagement, and deliberate policies to attract young people into production as critical levers for increasing output and modernising the sector. “Intensifying mechanisation, improving irrigation, strengthening logistics, and adopting agri-technology will help Ghanaian farmers compete on global markets,” he added.
The Chamber also stressed the importance of enhancing Ghana’s agricultural export competitiveness, particularly for cocoa, palm oil, and cashew. Mr. Morrison noted the need for agri-trade intelligence to identify competitor countries and inform strategies to strengthen Ghana’s global market share.
Increasing the budgetary allocation aligns with Ghana’s commitments under the Maputo Declaration, which advocates for a minimum 10 percent of national budgets to be invested in agriculture. The Chamber argues that achieving this target will not only boost food security and rural livelihoods but also position agriculture as a key driver of economic transformation, industrialisation, and job creation.
“Targeted investments in critical areas such as irrigation systems, transportation, storage infrastructure, and modern farming technologies will make our agricultural sector more resilient, productive, and globally competitive,” Mr. Morrison said.
As Ghana prepares its 2026 Budget, the Chamber of Agribusiness urges policymakers to prioritise structural reforms, investment in infrastructure, and support for youth-led farming initiatives to fully realise the sector’s economic potential.
