Farmers in Ghana are beginning to feel the consequences of decades of environmentally unsustainable practices such as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and dwindling household resources, yet their national agricultural policy remains focused on short-term economic gains. A recent panel event co-hosted by the IDS Ghana Development Studies Hub, University of Ghana, and University of Sussex, addressed these issues and brought together voices from farming, policy, and academia to explore more sustainable and equitable pathways for agriculture in Ghana.
Diverse perspectives
Presentations from farmer representatives of Peasant Farmers’ Association of Ghana, and Akuafo Nketewa aggregating company, NGOs and academics made cases for analysing and understanding potential agricultural livelihood trajectories and ways of producing food more sustainably and equitably.
Social science colleagues proposed examining contemporary trends in agrarian change and rural transformation from a historical perspective and recognising the political economy of agricultural policy in Ghana. Simultaneously, colleagues in the farming sector described the struggles of small-scale farmers to produce and sell at a profitable price.
Different presentations from each sector illustrated how farming in Ghana exists in a market-driven ‘race to the bottom’, often based on ecologically and socially damaging practices. Speakers showed how policy, academic and donor discourse tends to reinforce a growth-oriented paradigm that externalises environmental considerations. Economic discussions tend to be limited to examinations of the trade-off between input prices and food costs in any given year, rather than considering longer term horizons or ecosystem effects. Little consideration is given to promoting long-term viability of farming as a livelihood, and even less to environmental requirements of sustainability.
Challenges to environmental considerations
A contrasting approach was also presented, reminding participants of the economic benefits of ecosystem services such as pollination, which biodiversity contributes to. The presentations painted a picture of a dominant paradigm for agriculture that designates environmental considerations as externalities and does not recognise the possibility of constructing incentives for environmental conservation. Within this context, it seems to be a central challenge to understand how to promote farming practices that maintain the current resource base.
The panel discussion reinformed the understanding that sustainability in Ghana is perceived narrowly as ‘economic sustainability’ or viability. There is also widespread denigration of farming that is not primarily profit oriented. Yet, evidence from colleagues in the farming sector indicated that farmers are now beginning to see the negative effects from several decades of limited attention to environmental issues, including deterioration of soil quality and decreasing prevalence of species used as household resources, such as shea trees.
Discussion on solutions
As the discussion turned to potential solutions, few panelists had positive opinions about subsidising food production, whether or not such production was deemed environmentally sustainable. Calls for support to the sector focused on the role of collaboration between multiple partners, particularly small and medium-scale farmers and other private sector actors. There was also recognition of the need for support and incentives for farming and non-farm livelihood options to develop in agricultural areas.
The session closed by highlighting the need for further investigation to understand factors that can enhance synergies and reduce trade-offs in agricultural development and rural transformation. Participants also noted that a critical tension remained unresolved: namely, how to overcome the conundrum in which private sector actors, including farmers, are disincentivised to maintain, conserve or sustain vital public goods, such as ecosystem services, while pursuing commercially viable agricultural pathways that provide living incomes for all actors in the value chain.
The Ghana Development Studies hub will continue to address these questions through our ongoing research and partnerships. We are planning a series of webinars on critical environment and development issues over the coming year and look forward to the next tripartite event in 2026.