By Wisdom JONNY-NUEKPE
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has stated that the disregard for decentralized agriculture at the local level may impact key sector initiatives, such as the Feed Ghana Programme (FGP), 24-Hour Economy Policy, Land Banks, and Nkukor Nkitinkiti, among others.
The Chamber observed that, in cases where local agricultural services are insufficient, national policies face difficulties in attaining their desired outcomes related to food security, job creation for young people, growth of agribusiness, and progress in rural development.
The Chamber therefore urged the government to distribute major agricultural sector policies more locally in order to promote growth at the grassroots level.
CEO, CAG, Anthony Morrison, stated that neglecting decentralized agriculture undermines development at both the local and national levels, as the sector’s issues are not solely about policy creation at the top, but also about potential implementation problems if funding is insufficient locally.
The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), established under Article 252 of the Constitution, according to Morrison, is the primary source of flexible financing for MMDAs because it was intended to encourage balanced growth by providing local authorities with access to national resources.
However, the CAG stated that the DACF framework has a critical weakness, as there is no legal or guaranteed funding allocated for agriculture.
This oversight leads to significant impacts, as District Chief Executives, dealing with various conflicting needs—such as infrastructure, education, market development, hygiene, and operational expenses—frequently place agriculture lower on their priority list, not because it lacks importance, but because it doesn’t have a legally secured financial allocation in the local funding structure.
“Therefore, district agricultural departments are missing vehicles and motorbikes needed for extension activities, funding for farmer training and demonstrations, and resources to assist agribusiness and value chain development. Extension workers are frequently restricted to their offices, making it difficult to consistently engage with farmers. This hampers productivity, innovation, and resilience, especially in rural regions,” Morrison noted.
Time for Policy Change
CAG stated that if the nation’s focus is on decentralization and local economic growth, agriculture must not be overlooked in district funding, as immediate reforms are necessary.
The CEO emphasizes that it is essential for the government to implement a legal minimum share of the DACF for agriculture, which should be exclusively allocated for farming and agribusiness growth within the MMDA framework.
“Allocating a small portion of the DACF to agriculture could significantly enhance extension services, irrigation assistance, machinery support, post-harvest management, and value chain growth,” he stated.
The Chamber also promotes more robust accountability systems. It states that district combined budgets must feature distinct agricultural funding categories, and agricultural performance metrics should be incorporated into evaluations of MMDA and District Chief Executive officials, with agriculture being clearly acknowledged as the driving force behind local economic development.
Mr. Morrison mentioned that the government ought to explore a more progressive institutional overhaul, including the establishment of a Ghana Agriculture and Agribusiness Service (GAAS) under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
“Like the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service, GAAS would offer a specific institutional base for decentralized agricultural service delivery, along with consistent funding, supplies, and opportunities for staff advancement,” he stated.
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