The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has expressed deep concern over the ongoing glut in the grain value chain, which is causing severe hardship for farmers nationwide.
The association has made some demands of government after the Ministry of Food and Agriculture announced an additional GH₵100 million to National Food Buffer Stock Company to address the crisis.
According to the association, “over 200,000 metric tonnes of unsold paddy rice and maize remain from the last farming season, and many rice farms are still unharvested”.
It pointed out that farmers now face threats from bird invasions, bushfires, and limited harvesting capacity, which would jeopardize all their investments, if nothing drastic is done. Government has released GH₵100 million to address the issue.
However the PFAG is demanding an immediate publication of companies, locations, and quantities of grains procured with an initial 100 million.
In addition, it wants clear timelines for the commencement of grain purchases under the new GH₵100 million allocation, as well as a published list of all approved Licensed Buying Companies, Millers, and Aggregators with their assigned locations for direct farmer engagement.
The PFAG said it expects that the measures should be quickly deployed and announced immediately to save farmers investment.
The association also reiterated its earlier recommendations for a legislation mandating all state institutions—schools, hospitals, security services—to procure only locally produced rice and maize.
It also called for strengthened border controls to prevent smuggling of inferior rice and a temporary ban on rice imports until the situation stabilizes, as well as a coordinated public campaigns by relevant ministries and stakeholders to promote local rice consumption.
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