Land banks to address low agric output

The government of Ghana is focusing on converting underutilized land into productive agricultural space through a land banks policy, aimed at boosting food production for domestic consumption and export.

During his vetting on January 20, 2025, Minister for Food and Agriculture-designate, Eric Opoku, announced that the government would engage landowners to release potential farmlands for this initiative.

The policy will target youth and women, aiming to make farming more attractive to younger generations.

Research by the Agricultural Policy Research in Africa (APRA) shows that young people and women face challenges in accessing land, especially for cocoa farming. The land banks policy aims to address these challenges by improving land access and fostering rural agricultural development.