Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture says it is undertaking one of the largest transformations in the country’s farming sector through major investments in irrigation, mechanisation and digital agricultural systems.

Presenting the Ministry’s progress, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku announced the construction of new irrigation dams, rehabilitation of existing schemes and deployment of 250 solar-powered boreholes across farming communities and schools. He said more irrigation projects—including inland valleys for rice production—are already in the pipeline.

Mechanisation is also a key component. The Ministry is establishing Farmers’ Service Centres and expects to procure more than 4,000 pieces of machinery, including tractors and combine harvesters, to support farmers with land preparation, harvesting, storage and market access.

To strengthen climate resilience, 20 automated weather stations have been installed nationwide, supported by a digital Management Information System currently under World Bank review. Over 1,000 farmers are already receiving agro-climate advisories via SMS and voice calls, with a nationwide rollout scheduled for December 2025.

The Ministry is also equipping extension officers with motorbikes, recruiting 400 new district coordinators, and enrolling 10,000 youth under the National Service Agripreneur Track.

The Minister described these interventions as critical to ending rain-dependent farming and anchoring Ghana’s shift to climate-smart, data-driven agriculture.

Story by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson