The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Soil Research Institute has warned that Ghana’s drive to modernise agriculture is being held back not by a lack of scientific knowledge, but by the limited use of existing soil data in farming practices and policy decisions.
According to the institute’s Director, Dr. Collins Tay, Ghana has developed sophisticated soil research and mapping systems capable of guiding more accurate agricultural decisions. However, he said these tools remain underutilised both at the policy level and on farms.
Speaking on the issue, Dr. Tay highlighted the importance of the Ghana Soil Information System, which provides detailed information on soil conditions across the country and allows for location-specific recommendations.
“This system enables us to map soil properties across Ghana. When a farmer seeks advice, we assess the exact location, examine factors such as soil pH, nutrient levels and biological activity, and then provide recommendations tailored to that particular piece of land,” he explained.
He noted that such precision farming approaches are critical to boosting crop yields, improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenditure on agricultural inputs.
Dr. Tay expressed concern that many farmers continue to apply fertilisers without adequate guidance, leading to waste and avoidable environmental impacts.
“In some areas, soils already contain sufficient nutrients, yet fertilisers are still applied indiscriminately. This often results in unnecessary costs, inefficiencies and, in some cases, environmental damage,” he said.
He identified the limited use of soil testing and the continued reliance on broad, one-size-fits-all fertiliser programmes as major weaknesses within Ghana’s agricultural system.
“Farming in Ghana is still largely based on general recommendations, but soil conditions vary significantly from one location to another. Two farms only a few kilometres apart can have completely different characteristics, so treating them the same will not produce the best results,” he stated.
Dr. Tay called for stronger collaboration between research institutions and government agencies to ensure that scientific findings are integrated into national agricultural policies, fertiliser subsidy programmes and extension services.
“We need a system where decisions are driven by data rather than assumptions. If we continue to overlook soil science, we will keep investing heavily in fertilisers without achieving the desired improvements in food production,” he stressed.
As Ghana seeks to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen food security, experts believe that greater use of soil intelligence and data-driven farming could play a vital role in unlocking the sector’s full potential.