Omanghana
Agricultural experts and development specialists have urged Ghana to adopt the principles behind China’s agricultural transformation instead of attempting to reproduce individual Chinese technologies or policies without considering local conditions.
They identified sustained investment, policy continuity, integrated planning and the development of complete agricultural value chains as essential to making Ghana’s agriculture more productive, competitive and commercially sustainable.
The recommendations were made during a roundtable organized by the Ghana-China Friendship Association in Accra under the theme, “The State of Agriculture in Ghana: Lessons from China’s Agricultural Transformation.”
The event formed part of activities commemorating the 65th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship between Ghana and China on August 18, 1961.
Participants also paid tribute to distinguished Ghanaian diplomat and former GHACHIFA President Kojo Amoo-Gottfried.
Ghana Must Adapt Principles, Not Copy China
Speakers at the event stressed that Ghana should not attempt to copy China’s agricultural model wholesale because of differences in political systems, climate, land ownership and farming conditions.
Instead, the country should study and adapt the underlying principles that allowed China to transform agriculture over several decades.
These principles include persistent investment, clearly defined national targets, extensive infrastructure development, agricultural research, technology adoption and policies that allow farming enterprises to remain profitable.
The experts argued that China’s success did not result from a single technology, company or government program. It emerged from the gradual development of a complete agricultural system in which production, research, infrastructure, processing and markets support one another.
Policy Continuity Identified as Critical
Development agronomist Dr Abu Sakara said the most important lesson Ghana could learn from China was its persistence and continuity of investment in a chosen direction.
He observed that Ghana had introduced several national development plans and agricultural visions over the years but had often failed to sustain their implementation.
Changes in government sometimes result in programs being abandoned, renamed or significantly modified before their benefits can be realized. This lack of continuity makes long-term investment more difficult and weakens confidence among farmers and private businesses.
Dr Sakara called for consecutive development plans with specific and measurable targets that remain relevant across successive administrations.
He maintained that the central lesson from China should not simply be the acquisition of more tractors or the construction of irrigation facilities. It should be the discipline to maintain investment and policy direction over an extended period.
Agriculture Requires a Complete Value Chain
Agricultural engineer Wu Jianrong explained that modern agriculture involves much more than increasing the quantity of crops produced.
China’s transformation was supported by sustained investment in irrigation, roads, electricity, machinery, improved seeds, fertilizer, research, farmer training and agricultural markets.
Mr Wu urged Ghana to build similarly connected value chains that cover every stage—from preparing the land and producing crops to storage, transportation, processing, packaging and marketing.
Without these supporting systems, increased production can create new problems. Farmers may harvest more food but still suffer losses if storage facilities, reliable transport and ready markets are unavailable.
Investing in agro-processing would also allow Ghana to convert more agricultural commodities into higher-value products, create jobs and reduce dependence on imported processed foods.
Irrigation Needed for Year-Round Production
The experts identified irrigation as one of the most important areas requiring urgent investment.
A large part of Ghanaian agriculture remains dependent on seasonal rainfall, exposing farmers to droughts, delayed rains and increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Expanded irrigation would allow farmers to produce throughout the year, improve food availability and supply processing companies with raw materials more consistently.
The availability of irrigation could also make commercial agriculture more attractive to investors by reducing seasonal uncertainty and improving the reliability of production.
Mechanization Should Be Made More Accessible
Mr Wu recommended the establishment of machinery service centers where farmers could pay for mechanized planting, crop protection and harvesting services.
Such centers would offer smaller farmers access to modern equipment without requiring each farmer to purchase expensive machinery individually.
This approach could lower operating costs, reduce labor shortages and help farmers complete important activities within the appropriate planting and harvesting periods.
Mechanization must, however, be accompanied by maintenance services, spare parts, technical training and machinery suited to local crops and land conditions.
High Business Costs Undermine Competitiveness
Dr Sakara identified the cost of finance, transportation and storage as major obstacles to agricultural growth.
High interest rates make it difficult for farmers and agribusinesses to invest in equipment, irrigation, improved inputs and processing facilities. Ghanaian producers are consequently forced to compete with farmers in countries where credit is available at considerably lower rates.
Transport challenges and inadequate storage facilities further increase expenses and contribute to post-harvest losses.
The experts urged the government to pursue policies that systematically reduce the cost of doing business in agriculture instead of depending mainly on temporary subsidies or direct financial assistance.
A more competitive agricultural environment would require affordable financing, reliable energy, improved rural roads, efficient logistics and predictable regulations.
Agriculture Central to 24-Hour Economy Program
Chief Partnership Officer at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, Dr Ishmael Nii Dodoo, said agriculture would serve as an important foundation for the government’s industrialization program.
He said the initiative was seeking to address structural constraints involving irrigation, energy, transportation, financing and access to markets.
According to Dr Dodoo, work was underway to establish agricultural corridors based on soil characteristics and production potential. More than 600,000 hectares had reportedly been identified for commercial agricultural production.
He also highlighted the cost of energy as a major constraint on local industries and agro-processing companies.
Reliable and affordable electricity would be essential for operating irrigation pumps, cold-storage systems, processing plants, packaging facilities and other components of a modern food system.
Partnerships Should Priorities Production and Skills
Participants called for international agricultural cooperation to move beyond conventional aid arrangements toward partnerships that strengthen Ghana’s domestic production capacity.
Recommended areas include joint production ventures, agro-industrial manufacturing, demonstration farms, research collaboration and technical training centers.
Mr Wu advocated the establishment of additional China-Ghana agricultural demonstration farms and training facilities to improve technology transfer and develop practical skills among farmers and agricultural professionals.
Such partnerships could also help Ghana expand cold-chain systems, manufacture or assemble agricultural equipment and increase the domestic processing of locally produced commodities.
Integrated Planning Needed for Transformation
The speakers concluded that agriculture could not be developed separately from other sectors.
Effective transformation requires coordination among agriculture, finance, energy, transportation, land administration, science, technology and manufacturing.
Ghana’s long-term objective should be to build a system in which farmers can produce profitably, processors can obtain reliable raw materials and consumers can access affordable food.
China’s experience demonstrates that agricultural transformation requires decades of consistent planning and investment. For Ghana, the challenge will be maintaining a clear national direction across political administrations and ensuring that infrastructure, financing and industrial policies work together.
Source: Omanghana
