Author: Sefakor
The conversation started in reaction to news of imported ginger from China; frustrated, practical, and laced with immediacy. For Kojo Akoto Boateng, an Agribusiness Strategist and Farmer, the solution to Ghana’s ginger crisis has been on our laboratory shelves. The country already had what it needed. At the labs of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), lies healthy, disease-free ginger planting materials; carefully developed, and ready to be multiplied through tissue culture. What was missing wasn’t knowledge. It was an investment. “We have the planting material,” Kojo insisted. “Just a little funding to reproduce it, and farmers can begin…
Nearly four months after the government announced a bold directive to prioritise locally produced food in public institutions, frustration is beginning to grow among farmers who say the promise has yet to translate into real opportunities for them. For many rice farmers across Ghana, the announcement in November 2025 that public schools would buy only locally produced staples was greeted with excitement. The directive from President John Dramani Mahama, communicated by Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, was expected to create a guaranteed market for Ghanaian producers under the widely promoted “Buy Ghana, Eat Ghana” agenda. But according to the former…
The cocoa industry has been hit by drastic price fall, affecting thousands of farmers in Ghana, the second largest producer in the world after Cote D’Ivoire. The countries cocoa industry largely depends on the foreign market to succeed by exporting the raw material. Even though there’s abundance of cocoa in two West African countries, another market glut may occur if a planned lab production of chocolate without farm groan cocoa succeeds. The government of Ghana has announced plans to start processing the commodity locally, however, the fear is that a lab-manufactured chocolate will push away small-holder cocoa farmers out of…
Producers of plantain chips have taken to the streets in Accra to protest what they describe as “false and damaging” claims that some manufacturers are melting white plastic rubber into hot oil to make the popular snack crispier and longer lasting. The demonstration follows allegations circulated by a social media user and reportedly discussed on Sompa FM by its presenter Oheneni. The claims quickly gained traction online, sparking outrage among consumers and prompting calls for a nationwide boycott of plantain chips. While demonstrating the processes of production, the protesters insisted that the allegations are baseless and have already begun affecting…
A legal battle is brewing at the Supreme Court as a farmer from Techiman has dragged the government to court over what she describes as prohibitive and unconstitutional licensing fees for industrial cannabis cultivation in Ghana. Mariam Alhassan, a farmer based in Techiman, has filed a landmark suit invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, seeking to strike down the current regulatory framework governing industrial hemp production. At the centre of the dispute is a licence fee regime that requires farmers to pay up to USD 45,000 (GH¢480,000) per hectare to cultivate Indian hemp legally; a cost the plaintiff…
The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has called on Ghanaian youth to take advantage of expanding opportunities within Ghana’s agricultural sector, stressing that farming remains one of the most viable and sustainable business ventures in the country. He discussed available financial packages from state agencies specifically designed for youth. Addressing participants at a town hall meeting organised by The Ghanaian Farmer in partnership with the People Building Institute on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the British Council in Accra, Mr. Dumelo emphasised that agriculture must be viewed not merely as subsistence work but as a serious and…
Hopes are ripe for the full implementation of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti project after a successful pilot of 50,000 birds. The ambitious project which was launched in November 2025 by President John Dramami Mahama aims to make Ghana independent for its poultry needs. He mentioned that the country imports a whopping $350,000,000 worth of poultry, describing it as a missed opportunity. Growing the entire value chain is what the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ initiative seeks to achieve as part of the broader Feed Ghana programme, by achieving 100% local self-sufficiency within three years. Leading a delegation from the office of Minister of State…
You know what they say, absentee farming is a recipe for disaster. However, technology is increasingly providing solutions for farmers to maintain oversight of their operations remotely. Given the impossibility of constant on-site presence, a straightforward device has proven effective in reducing the risks associated with absentee farming, allowing for continued monitoring of farm activities. From Nairobi, Kenya and known as Ken The Farmer on social media, he is one of the young agricultural entrepreneurs empowering and spreading knowledge. He embraces technology to improve farm efficiency and environmental impact. His latest addition is the use of solar-powered CCTV cameras to…
A collaboration between the West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP) and FarmMate Ltd is giving hope to the tomato industry in Ghana after successfully meeting a production target of 240 tonnes in the Upper East Region of Ghana in the first round of the project. A post made by the FSRP on its official Facebook page said the project is part of interventions with the Ministry of Food & Agriculture, to address the annual shortages and fluctuating prices of tomatoes across the country, particularly during the dry season. With funding from the Norwegian Government and coordinated by the World…
Ghana’s agricultural sector is entering a new phase of modernisation as the government places research, data, and technology at the centre of national food production strategies. At the 2025 National Farmers’ Day celebration in Ho, the Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku, reaffirmed that the future of farming in Ghana will be built on science, not guesswork. For decades, many farming decisions across the country have relied on experience passed down through generations. While valuable, these traditional methods are becoming less reliable in the face of changing weather patterns, rising input costs, and shifting market demands. The government says…