PFAG Urges Government to Enact Law Mandating Purchase of Local Farm Produce to Curb Food Glut
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to introduce legislation that would require state institutions, including prisons, senior high schools, hospitals, and other public entities, to purchase locally produced food. The association says such a move is necessary to tackle the ongoing food glut in the country, which has left many farmers struggling to recover their investments.
Ghana is currently experiencing a surplus in agricultural produce, leading to significant post-harvest losses. Farmers across the country are reporting that unsold crops often rot in the fields or storage facilities, resulting in financial losses that threaten their livelihoods.
Speaking to The New Finder, the Acting Executive Director of PFAG, Bismark Owusu Nortey, emphasised the urgency of legislative support to strengthen local agricultural markets.
“For all the foods we are able to produce locally, the government must institute legislation where state institutions like the security services, schools, and other public entities are mandated to exclusively buy from local produce before they even think of importing any food,” Mr. Nortey said.
He stressed that such a policy would help reduce post-harvest losses and provide much-needed relief to farmers who often rely on loans to finance their farming activities.
“When we have such legislation, our farmers can also support themselves and the workers they hire on their farms. This legislation will not only help curb the issue of surplus food going bad but also reduce food inflation and provide relief to citizens,” he added.
Mr. Nortey also called for investment in modern storage and processing facilities. According to him, state-of-the-art storage systems would allow grains such as rice, maize, soya, and sorghum to be preserved for longer periods, while tubers and fruits could be processed into flours, dried, or deep-frozen for long-term use.
“This all comes down to value addition. Proper processing and preservation can extend shelf life, reduce waste, and create new market opportunities. In the long run, it benefits everyone from the farmer to the consumer,” he explained.
Experts in the agricultural sector agree that Ghana’s current food glut is partly due to a lack of coordinated market structures and storage infrastructure. While the country produces enough to feed its population, the absence of effective post-harvest management leads to wastage and financial losses.
A senior economist at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, who preferred to remain unnamed, noted:
“Ghana’s agricultural sector has immense potential. However, without policies that guarantee markets for farmers’ produce and investments in storage, processing, and transportation, we will continue to see gluts followed by shortages. Strategic intervention is essential.”
PFAG has urged the government to complement legislative measures with educational programs that train farmers in modern storage techniques and value addition. They also recommend the establishment of cooperative systems to enable farmers to pool resources, reduce costs, and collectively access government and private sector markets.
“Our farmers are hardworking, but they cannot continue to bear losses caused by systemic issues. With proper legislation, storage infrastructure, and training, we can transform the agricultural sector into a more sustainable and profitable enterprise,” Mr. Nortey concluded.
The association’s recommendations come amid growing calls from various stakeholders for urgent government intervention to stabilise local agricultural markets, ensure food security, and support the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaian farmers.
