Agricultural sector in Ghana

Agriculture continues to be one of the largest sectors of Ghana’s economy, contributing about 30% of GDP in 2010. There are opportunities for investment in irrigation, machinery, livestock and fertiliser.

Market overview

Ghana produces a wide variety of cash crops including cocoa, palm oil, maize, rice and cassava. The sector accounted for 34% of GDP in 2009 down from 40% in 2000. In the past decade the Government has focused on increasing non-traditional exports. This includes sheanuts (67,826 tonnes exported in 2009 – latest figures), cashew nuts (52,965 tonnes exported in 2009), bananas (47,613 tonnes exported in 2009) and pineapples (31,567 tonnes exported in 2009).

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has oversight responsibility for major policy decisions although the cocoa and the timber industries are overseen by independent government entities.

MoFA currently has in place a plan known as METASIP: Medium- Term Agriculture Investment Plan which spans from 2011-2015 and consists of six components; improving food security, increasing incomes along the value chain, encouraging competitiveness and market integration, promoting sustainability, increasing the use of science and technology and improving institutional coordination throughout the sector.

Key opportunities

Irrigation and Water Management – 11,000 hectares of land (out of an identifiable 500,000 hectares) has been developed for formal irrigation. MoFA intends to partner the private sector to develop and expand this area.

Mechanisation Services – in the expansion of mechanisation to farming activities such as planting, cultivation, harvesting and primary processing such as threshing, shelling and milling. Also the quality and efficiency of locally manufactured machinery is not up to food grade standard and needs to be improved.

Livestock – Undertaking genetic characterisation and improvement of local livestock species, training farmers on livestock disease management, rehabilitation and equipping of quarantine stations, equipping and providing logistics for animal health clinics in all district capitals, production and procurement of relevant vaccines for livestock, training community livestock workers to act as service agents, identifying, updating and dissemination of improved livestock technological packages.

Fertiliser – due to poor agricultural yields and the high cost of fertilizer the Government is looking to commercialise it offshore gas to be used for fertiliser.

Latest export opportunities – Agriculture

Latest export opportunities – Ghana

Getting into the market

All foreign companies are required to register with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) who can assist with guidance on the bureaucratic procedures for investment. Guidance available at http://www.gipcghana.com/

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture

(MoFA-http://mofa.gov.gh) is the lead Ministry responsible for policy and strategy in the agricultural sector.

More about doing business in Ghana

Contacts

Market intelligence is critical when doing business overseas, and UKTI can provide bespoke market research and support during overseas visits though our chargeable Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS).

To commission research or for general advice about the market, get in touch with our specialists in country – or contact your local international trade team.

  • Lydia Bampoe, British High Commission, Ghana.

Tel: +233 (0)302 213312 or email: [email protected].

  • UKTI Ghana Trade Team, British High Commission, Ghana

Tel: +233 (0)302 213300 or email [email protected]

Contact your local international trade team

Events

UKTI runs a range of events for exporters, including seminars in the UK, trade missions to overseas markets and support for attendance at overseas trade shows.

Latest events – Agriculture

Useful links

More about OMIS and other UKTI services for exporters

Countries: Ghana
Export Action Plan