Ahead of the mid-year budget review, peasant farmers are calling on the government to allocate 50% of funds earmarked for the Big Push infrastructure initiative to the agricultural sector.

They argue that prioritising agriculture—one of the government’s core policy objectives—could be a transformative move, driving economic growth and job creation.

The farmers highlighted the Feed Ghana Programme, which aims to boost food production, supply raw materials to agro-processing industries, and create employment opportunities, particularly for the country’s growing youth population.

The initiative includes plans to establish farmer service centres nationwide, offering mechanisation support, quality inputs, financing, market access, and training.

Speaking at a civil society pre-budget forum in Accra, the Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, emphasised the need to reallocate significant funding from the National Infrastructure Development Programme—popularly known as the Big Push—into agriculture.

“If you listen to the President and his appointees, you’ll realise that agriculture is the anchor of this government. In the 24-Hour Economy Programme, there are eight objectives—about seven of them focus on agriculture. The Feed Ghana Programme itself has several planned initiatives.

“So if the government’s flagship economic programme is centred on agriculture, and we aim to reduce our food import bill, improve food security, and ensure quality local food production, there’s every justification to channel at least 50% of Big Push funds into the agriculture sector,” he stated.

In a related development, traders are also urging the government to reduce transport costs and invest more in mechanised farming to ease the movement of goods from farms and boost agricultural productivity.

A plantain vendor told Citi Business News: “I wish to express concern over the rising cost of fuel. While the recent price drop was welcome—especially for those transporting farm goods—the new GHC1 levy per litre has cancelled out the benefits. It’s increased overall fuel costs, straining livelihoods and pushing up transport expenses.”

Opanyin Amissah, a yam trader, added: “If the government can support us with agricultural equipment to ease our work, it would help reduce the prices of our produce and improve our earnings.”