Ghana’s agricultural sector is grappling with a critical challenge—an aging farming population coupled with a significant skills gap.
According to Anthony Morrison, CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Agri-Business, the country has one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the agriculture sector, a situation that threatens the industry’s future.
Citing findings from the 2018 agriculture census, Morrison emphasized that more than 70% to 80% of individuals engaged in farming lack formal education or technical training.
He also highlighted another pressing concern—the age of Ghanaian farmers.
“More than a larger population of the farmer population is above the age of 70, which makes it an even bigger challenge. So we have a little over 21% of our youth involved in agriculture. And they also have a percentage that are not well skilled.”
Anthony Morrison
The issue is further complicated by the fact that many farmers practice subsistence agriculture, which, despite sustaining rural economies, does not significantly contribute to national economic growth.
Morrison stressed that removing farmers from this cycle is difficult due to the peculiar challenges within the sector.
He revealed that to tackle this issue, the Ghana Chamber of Agri-Business has partnered with several organizations to develop an economic skills diversification program.
Key collaborators include the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Bank, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service, the TVET Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the German development agency GIZ.
This initiative aims to equip farmers with essential skills to enhance their productivity and transition from subsistence to commercial farming.
Mechanization Misconceptions Hinder Progress
Furthermore, Anthony Morrison pointed out widespread misconceptions about mechanization which is affecting Ghana’s agriculture sector.
He emphasized that merely deploying tractors does not equate to a fully mechanized farming system.
“Let’s get it right. Mechanization is different from factorization and irrigation. Deploying tractors on the farm does not also imply that you are mechanizing the farm.”
Anthony Morrison
He elaborated that mechanization encompasses various elements, including irrigation systems, boom sprayers, planters, and combine harvesters.
Additionally, post-harvest strategies such as warehouse facilities are crucial in minimizing food losses and improving storage efficiency.
Despite these insights, Morrison lamented the lack of deliberate efforts by the country to mechanize agriculture.
He cited the example of Ghana’s only irrigation school in Akuse, which was established with infrastructure support from GIZ. However, for over a decade, the facility has remained unused.
“Meanwhile, we’re talking about increasing skills in the agriculture sector, increasing mechanization activities, and doing all that,” he remarked, underscoring the contradiction between policy discussions and on-the-ground realities.
A recent report by the World Bank and Haifa International compared Ghana’s agricultural sector to that of Kenya, Tanzania, and other African nations, ranking Ghana 15th in terms of technology adoption and skills in agri-tech businesses.
Another independent World Bank report rated the country poorly, indicating that its skills levels are not directly translating into increased productivity.
In response, the World Bank initiated support programs aimed at strengthening institutional skills and capacities in the sector.
One such initiative, Global Affairs Canada, focused on bolstering technical and vocational institutions within the TVET sector.
The Need For Education And Skills Separation
Anthony Morrison also shared his perspective on Ghana’s ongoing educational reforms, emphasizing the need to clearly differentiate between traditional academic education and hands-on, practical skills training.
He highlighted that while academic knowledge is essential, equipping individuals with applicable, job-ready skills is equally crucial for fostering economic growth and reducing unemployment.
“Let’s, as a country, separate education from skills. And that has been the major headache of our industrialization.
“We have put over the past 60, and 70 years of our lives after independence on education. But no country has developed with education. Countries transform with skills.”
Anthony Morrison
He maintained that while formal education is valuable, a nation’s industrialization and economic transformation are fundamentally driven by practical skills.
This perspective aligns with calls from industry experts who advocate for a stronger focus on technical and vocational training as a means to bridge Ghana’s skills gap and drive sustainable economic growth.
With agriculture being the backbone of Ghana’s economy, stakeholders believe that addressing these structural inefficiencies is crucial to ensuring a more robust, technologically advanced, and productive sector.
The challenge now lies in implementing policies that translate these concerns into tangible reforms, particularly in mechanization, skills training, and youth participation in agriculture.
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