Grain Glut Threatens Next Planting Season – Peasant Farmers Caution Gov’t
By Praisebll Rosemond Larbi
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has issued a strong warning to the government over the growing grain glut that threatens to derail the country’s next planting season and undermine efforts to achieve food security.
According to the association, more than 200,000 metric tonnes of unsold paddy rice and maize from the previous farming season remain stuck in warehouses and on farms, with several rice fields yet to be harvested. PFAG says the surplus is leaving farmers exposed to severe post-harvest losses caused by bird invasions, bushfires, and inadequate harvesting machinery.
In a statement, the association expressed concern that the persistent glut could discourage many farmers particularly young people, from participating in the next planting season. This, it cautioned, would undermine the government’s Feed Ghana initiative, a key component of the broader Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program aimed at achieving national food self-sufficiency.
Earlier this year, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) announced the release of GH¢100 million to mop up excess grains and set minimum guaranteed prices for maize, rice, and gari. However, PFAG said the promised purchases have yet to materialize in any significant way. It added that no data has been made available on which districts or farmer groups have benefited, raising serious questions about accountability and transparency.
In response to the growing pressure, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture recently announced an additional GH¢100 million allocation to address the crisis. PFAG welcomed the move but insisted that the ministry must ensure efficiency and openness in implementing the plan.
The association called for the immediate publication of companies, locations, and quantities of grains procured under the first GH¢100 million allocation, alongside clear timelines for new purchases. It further demanded a published list of all Licensed Buying Companies, Millers, and Aggregators operating under the scheme to allow direct engagement with farmers.
PFAG also renewed its long-standing call for legislation compelling state institutions including schools, hospitals, and security agencies, to procure only locally produced rice and maize. It urged the government to strengthen border controls to curb the smuggling of inferior rice, temporarily suspend rice imports, and launch a national campaign to promote local rice consumption.
The association warned that failure to take urgent action could result in massive financial losses for farmers, a decline in rice production, and setbacks in Ghana’s goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency. PFAG concluded by calling for a comprehensive national agricultural marketing strategy covering key crops such as vegetables, cereals, and legumes, to prevent similar crises in the future.
