Peasant Farmers Urge Government to Allocate Half of 'Big Push' Funds to Agriculture in Mid-Year Budget

Ahead of Ghana’s mid-year budget review, peasant farmers are calling on the government to significantly reallocate national infrastructure funds in favour of the agricultural sector. Specifically, they are demanding that at least 50% of resources under the National Infrastructure Development Programme—popularly referred to as the “Big Push”—be channelled into agriculture to enhance food production, create jobs, and drive economic transformation.

The appeal was made during a civil society pre-budget dialogue in Accra, where the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) expressed concern over the government’s budgetary priorities. According to the Association’s Executive Director, Bismark Nortey, allocating a greater portion of infrastructure investment to agriculture would not only align with the government’s own policy goals but also provide immediate economic benefits to rural communities.

“Agriculture is central to Ghana’s economic strategy,” Nortey stated. “When you examine the government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda, almost all of its core objectives—seven out of eight—are rooted in agricultural development. It’s clear the sector is positioned as a key driver of national growth.”

He argued that while infrastructure development is essential, an overemphasis on urban projects at the expense of rural agricultural investments undermines the country’s ability to achieve food security and reduce dependence on imported food. Nortey stressed that a substantial portion of infrastructure funding should be redirected to support critical agriculture-based initiatives such as irrigation systems, feeder roads, storage facilities, and mechanisation centres.

Central to their proposal is the Feed Ghana Programme, a government initiative aimed at boosting local food production, supplying inputs for agro-processing, and generating employment—particularly for young people. As part of this programme, the government has announced plans to establish Farmer Service Centres nationwide to provide access to mechanisation, affordable inputs, financing, training, and markets.

“Supporting Feed Ghana with real investment will not only feed the nation but create a strong agricultural economy that benefits everyone—from farmers to traders to consumers,” Nortey added.

Traders and market actors, particularly those involved in transporting and selling farm produce, are also voicing concerns. They highlight the rising cost of moving goods from rural farms to urban centres due to high fuel prices and inadequate transportation infrastructure. Many believe that investing in rural agricultural infrastructure would reduce the cost of doing business, lower food prices, and improve earnings along the value chain.

A plantain trader who spoke to Citi Business News criticised the recent GHC1 levy per litre on fuel, saying it has wiped out the small gains made from recent fuel price reductions. “This levy has pushed fuel costs back up. For those of us who rely on trucks to bring goods from farming areas, it means higher transport fees and less profit,” she explained.

Similarly, yam trader Opanyin Amissah called on the government to provide small-scale farmers and traders with improved tools and mechanised support. “We are still doing things manually. If the government can help us with equipment and logistics, we can grow more food, reduce waste, and lower the price of our goods.”

According to the PFAG, increased investment in agriculture offers the best return in terms of job creation, poverty reduction, and economic stability. The group argues that prioritising agriculture within the national infrastructure agenda would help address major development challenges, especially in rural communities where unemployment and underdevelopment persist.

As the Ministry of Finance prepares to present the mid-year budget to Parliament, the call from peasant farmers and other stakeholders serves as a timely reminder of the need to align public investment with national development priorities. Whether the government will adjust its funding model in response remains to be seen, but farmers remain hopeful that the mid-year budget will reflect their concerns and put agriculture at the centre of Ghana’s growth strategy.