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Ghana's maize production reached *** million metric tons in 2023, continuing an overall upward trend since 2016. This significant increase in production reflects the crop's importance as a staple food in the country, reinforcing other leading agricultural produce such as cassava, yam, and plantain,.

Expanding cultivation area drives production growth

The increase in maize production can be attributed in part to the expansion of harvested area. In 2023, the harvested area of maize reached *** million hectares in Ghana, the highest area recorded in recent years. This represents a continuation of the gradual increase in harvested areas observed since 2015. The possible correlation between increased land use and higher production volumes highlights the importance of agricultural expansion in boosting Ghana's maize output.

Crop consumption and seeding dynamics

While maize is one of the staples in Ghana, it remains part of a diverse agricultural consumption landscape in Ghana. For instance, cassava leads in per capita consumption among food crops, followed by yam, cocoyam, and maize. This diversity in crop consumption is further exemplified by the country's seed market, where imported hybrid maize seeds were priced at ** Ghanaian cedis (around *** U.S. dollars) per kg in 2022, higher than local hybrid varieties and other crops like groundnuts and cowpeas. The variation in seed prices and consumption patterns showcase the rather complex agricultural ecosystem in Ghana in which maize production thrives