Ghana : agriculture sector analysis

In addition, the conceptual soundness and appropriateness of the World Bank/IMF-led Economic Reform Program (1983-89) is evaluated in terms of Ghanaian resources, comparative advantage, and other factors. Of particular importance in the analysis are the constraints to increasing agricultural productivity. A rationale is presented for privatization and the need to restructure the economy along the lines of a private sector agriculture-led strategy focusing more on world markets. The paper includes discussion of recommended future research approaches based on supply and demand policy analysis for analyzing important Ghanaian crops including maize, rice, cotton, and wheat. This paper aims to help form the basis of a USAID/Ghana private sector agricultural and export-oriented development strategy consistent with the goals of the Government of Ghana and the World Bank/IMF. Recommendations for building on existing agricultural programs and initiation of agricultural program assistance are also given. (Author abstract)