Agricultural research in Ghana: An IFPRI-STEPRI report

2012

English

Ghana’s agriculture sector accounts for 35 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and nearly two thirds (60 percent) of the employment (Breisinger et al. 2011). Ghana is one of the top five performers in the world in terms of agricultural growth. Benefiting from favorable weather conditions, the world market prices for cocoa, and an abundance of arable land, its agricultural sector has been growing at an average annual rate of 5.1 percent over the past 25 years (ODI 2010). However, agricultural production growth patterns have been erratic over a longer period and yields of most crops have not grown steadily (Breisinger et al. 2008). Rather, yields for most crops are 20–60 percent below achievable yield levels (Breisinger et al. 2011). Reaching the productivity targets that Ghana has set for different crops will require growth rates in productivity far higher than that achieved in the past (Breisinger et al. 2011). Additionally, agricultural performance has not been uniform within subsectors. The forestry and cocoa subsectors were growing more rapidly (at double digit rates) between 1991 and 2005 than crops other than cocoa (1.5 to 4.5 percent). While agricultural production growth rates in Ghana have been impressive, these have come mainly from area expansion rather than yield increases. Gaps exist between current and achievable yields for various crops. For major crops in Ghana such as maize, rice, millet and yam, estimated yield gaps are between 38 and 47 percent, and as high as 58 percent in cassava. By closing these yields gaps, agricultural productivity can be increased significantly. However, tapping into the vast potential of Ghana as well as West Africa to expand its agricultural production requires greater availability and wider use of existing knowledge (Nin-Pratt et al. 2011). More specifically, reducing yields gaps and increasing agricultural productivity can be achieved in part through the adoption of existing crop technologies; the use of improved crop varieties and recommended levels of fertilizer; and the application of adequate farm, nutrient, water, and pest management practices (Nin-Pratt et al. 2011). The critical role of science, technology, and innovation in promoting economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction in the developing world has become very clear, especially in the agricultural sector (IFPRI 2009). At a time when land and water are becoming increasingly scarce, agricultural growth will increasingly need to come from gains in productivity. At the same time, globalization and new supply chains have obliged farmers to respond quickly to changing market demands (Alcadi et al.2009). Technologies are needed to increase the productivity, stability, and resilience of sustainable production systems. At the same time, farmers find themselves in need of new uses of science and technology to mitigate and adapt to emerging challenges like climate change.

van Rheenen, T.; Obirth-Opareh, N.; Essegbey, G. O.; Kolavalli, S.; Ferguson, J.; Boadu, P.; Chiang, C.