The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to take urgent steps to address the ongoing grain glut in Ghana, which it says is inflicting heavy financial losses on smallholder farmers and threatening national food security.
According to the Association, more than 200,000 metric tonnes of unsold paddy rice and maize from the last farming season remain stuck in warehouses and fields across the country.
Many farmers, it said, are unable to harvest or sell their produce due to the absence of reliable buyers, inadequate storage, and a lack of processing capacity.
PFAG warned that the situation, if not addressed urgently, could discourage thousands of farmers, particularly the youth from participating in the next planting season, undermining the government’s flagship Feed Ghana programme.
The association noted that delayed harvesting and limited market access have left farmers vulnerable to bird invasions, bushfires, and spoilage, further eroding their earnings.
It added that many rice fields in northern Ghana are still unharvested, worsening the crisis.
“Farmers have done their part by producing in abundance, but the market system has failed them,” PFAG said in a statement. “Without timely intervention, we risk massive post-harvest losses and a collapse of confidence in grain production.”
Earlier, the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) announced the release of GHS 100 million to purchase excess grains and set minimum guaranteed prices for maize, rice, and gari.
However, PFAG said farmers have not witnessed any significant purchases, and there is no public data on which districts have benefited.
“The lack of transparency raises serious concerns about accountability and fairness,” the group said. “We call for the immediate publication of beneficiary locations, quantities, and companies involved.”
In response to growing pressure, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) last week pledged an additional GHS 100 million to mop up excess produce.
PFAG welcomed the initiative but insisted that greater efficiency and transparency must guide the disbursement and procurement process.
PFAG outlined several immediate steps for government action, including; the publication of all companies, locations, and quantities of grains purchased under the first GHS 100 million allocation, a clear timeline for new purchases under the second allocation and the release of a verified list of Licensed Buying Companies, Millers, and Aggregators, along with their designated operational zones.
Such transparency, PFAG said, will ensure direct farmer engagement and accountability in the value chain.
To create a sustainable domestic market, PFAG renewed its call for legislation mandating state institutions, including schools, hospitals, and security services to procure locally produced rice and maize.
The association also proposed; stricter border controls to prevent the smuggling of inferior imported rice, a temporary ban on rice imports to stabilise local prices and a national campaign to promote local rice consumption and improve consumer confidence.
PFAG cautioned that continued inaction could lead to a reduction in rice production, undermining Ghana’s ambition of achieving self-sufficiency in rice and threatening livelihoods across the agricultural value chain.
Beyond the current crisis, PFAG urged the government and key stakeholders to develop a comprehensive national marketing strategy to address post-harvest and pricing challenges affecting grains, legumes, and vegetables.
“Every year we face the same challenge of surplus without a market,” PFAG stressed. “A coordinated, transparent system that guarantees fair prices and prompt payment is essential to sustain farmer motivation and secure Ghana’s food future.”
