Accra: Ghana's agriculture sector is set for a major technological transformation following the introduction of drone technology to support farmers under the government's Feed Ghana Programme.
According to Ghana Web, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Accra, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, presented five agricultural drones, 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser, and nearly 8,000 cartons of organic fertiliser to farmer groups and cooperatives across the country.
The Minister described the deployment of drones as a significant milestone in Ghana's transition from traditional farming methods to precision agriculture, stating that technology will play a critical role in boosting productivity, reducing costs, and making agriculture more attractive to young people. "The future of agriculture will not be built only with the hoe and cutlass. It will also be built with data, drones, improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, mechanisation, extension services, digital advisory services, and precision farming tools," he said.
According to him, the drones will enable farmers and farmer organisations to monitor crops more effectively, detect pest and disease outbreaks early, identify crop stress, map farms, and make informed management decisions based on real-time data. The Minister noted that the technology would help reduce waste, improve yields, limit excessive use of agrochemicals, and enhance environmental sustainability and farmer safety.
"This marks a bold shift in Ghana's agricultural journey, from guesswork to data, from traditional agricultural production practices to precision production, and from low productivity to smart farming," he added. Eric Opoku said the government is determined to reposition agriculture as a sector driven by innovation, investment, and entrepreneurship rather than as a last-resort occupation.
He added that the adoption of technologies such as drones would particularly help attract young people into agriculture by demonstrating that modern farming offers opportunities in science, technology, and business. Alongside the technology rollout, the government, he said, has intensified fertiliser distribution nationwide to support crop production during the current major farming season in northern Ghana and the upcoming minor season in the south.
The Minister announced that 40,000 bags of inorganic fertiliser are being distributed through the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana for onward allocation to farmers who may not have benefited from district-level distributions under the Feed Ghana Programme. He disclosed that fertiliser supplies have already been dispatched to agricultural production constituencies across the country and that, by the end of the week, 1,500 bags would have been delivered to all 276 constituencies through district agricultural offices.
In addition, registered faith-based organisations and institutions participating in the government's Institutional Farming Scheme will also receive fertiliser support. Minister Opoku said the intervention demonstrates the government's commitment to ensuring that no hardworking farmer is excluded from accessing essential production inputs. "Our farmers do not ask for sympathy. They ask for timely support, fair access, reliable markets, and the opportunity to produce. As a government, our duty is to create the conditions that allow them to succeed," he said.
The Ministry also distributed 7,936 cartons of organic fertiliser to selected vegetable producer cooperatives, irrigation schemes, and agricultural facilitators. Beneficiaries include vegetable production cooperatives in Abokobi, Adenta, Michel Camp, and English Amanfrom, as well as the ICOUR Tono Irrigation Scheme and agricultural facilitator FarmMate Ltd.
According to the Minister, the remaining 6,500 cartons will be distributed to farmers in southern Ghana ahead of the minor farming season. Eric Opoku stressed that while inorganic fertilisers are essential for meeting immediate crop nutrient requirements, organic fertilisers are equally important for maintaining long-term soil health. "A nation that destroys its soil destroys its future," he said, explaining that organic fertilisers improve soil structure, increase water retention, and enhance soil fertility over time.
The Minister said the interventions form part of the broader Feed Ghana Programme, which seeks to increase food production, create jobs, reduce food imports, and strengthen the country's agricultural value chains. "If we want food prices to stabilise, we must produce more. If we want to reduce food imports, we must produce more. If we want to create jobs for our youth, we must produce more," he stated.
He emphasised that achieving these goals requires farmers to have access to the right inputs and modern technologies at the right time. "Today, we are not simply distributing drones and fertilisers. We are distributing opportunity. We are distributing productivity. We are distributing confidence. We are distributing the future of Ghanaian agriculture," he added. The Minister further urged beneficiary organisations to ensure transparency and accountability in the use and distribution of the inputs so that they reach the intended farmers and contribute directly to increased agricultural production and improved farmer incomes.