Overview
Maize is Ghana's most important cereal crop, with annual production exceeding 3 million metric tons. The crop serves as a staple food, animal feed, and increasingly as an industrial input for food processing.
Current State of the Value Chain
Production
- Approximately 1 million farming households cultivate maize
- Average yields of 2.0 MT/ha, below the potential of 5+ MT/ha
- Rain-fed production concentrated in the transition and northern zones
Post-Harvest
- Losses estimated at 20-30% due to poor handling and storage
- Limited access to drying and storage facilities
- Quality degradation affecting market prices
Markets
- Fragmented trading networks with multiple intermediaries
- Price volatility between lean and harvest seasons
- Growing demand from poultry industry and processors
Key Opportunities
Investment Considerations
Investors and development partners should consider:
- Strategic locations along key trade corridors
- Partnerships with existing farmer organizations
- Technology adoption for quality and traceability
- Policy environment and government initiatives
Conclusion
Ghana's maize value chain offers significant opportunities for impact and returns, particularly at the post-harvest and processing stages where efficiency gains can benefit both farmers and buyers.