2027 budget must prioritise roads, water and electricity for commercial farmers – Prof Egyir

Agricultural economist Prof Irene Egyir has urged the government to prioritize funding for essential infrastructure in the 2027 Budget, asserting that reliable roads, electricity, water, and affordable credit are vital for commercial farmers to expand their businesses. Discussing the upcoming budget on JoyNews’ The Pulse, Egyir, an Associate Professor and Policy Advisor at the Ghana Association of Agricultural Economists, emphasized the need for investment across various stages of the agricultural value chain, including production, processing, input supply, and distribution.

While she acknowledged initiatives aimed at improving access to education and credit for women in agriculture, she stressed that infrastructure for commercial farmers deserved greater attention. Egyir highlighted the importance of good roads, electricity, and water for commercial farmers, stating, "I’m a commercial farmer. I may not need the money, but I will need my good roads, I will need my electricity, I will need my water."

She argued that agricultural investment should extend beyond production, processing, and distribution to encompass the local economies where farming activities occur. Prof Egyir also expressed hope for increased funding to complete outstanding projects and address infrastructure needs, stating that the government should allocate double the funds from the previous year.

She called for targeted support for young graduates entering agriculture as entrepreneurs, noting that existing interventions like free fertiliser were insufficient for those aiming to establish commercially viable businesses. Egyir urged the government to maintain stable macroeconomic conditions, advocating for lower interest rates on loans and sustained efforts to control inflation.

She emphasized that persistent inflation could negatively impact farmers' purchasing decisions and distribution plans, stating, "We want not only the infrastructure to be there, but I want to be motivated and encouraged, incentivised to borrow at a very minimum rate." The 2027 Budget is set to be presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on November 12, 2026.