The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has urged government to impose an immediate six-month ban on rice imports, warning that thousands of local farmers are struggling with large volumes of unsold rice despite increased domestic production.
According to the Association, the continued influx of imported rice has created a market imbalance that is leaving local producers unable to sell their harvests, threatening livelihoods and undermining efforts to strengthen Ghana’s food security agenda.
A statement issued on June 4, and signed by PFAG’s president, Douglas Annor, stated that nearly 90 percent of local rice farmers are currently holding unsold stock, a situation it partly attributes to the inability of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase surplus rice as directed by President John Dramani Mahama.
The Association argued that a temporary suspension of rice imports would create room for locally produced rice to reach the market, improve demand for domestic produce and help stabilise farm-gate prices.
“Government should immediately impose a moratorium on rice imports for a minimum of six months to allow existing stocks of Ghanaian-produced rice to be cleared,” PFAG stated.
In April this year, the Association of Ghana Rice Producers and Processors confirmed an estimated one million metric tonnes of unsold paddy rice on the local market.
The glut, valued at GH¢5 billion according to the Association, is due to severe shortages of buyers for the commodity.
Calls for stronger support for local rice industry
Beyond the proposed import ban, PFAG is calling for a comprehensive review of NAFCO’s operations, including its procurement systems, financing arrangements and institutional capacity to support farmers effectively.
The Association believes strengthening the buffer stock system is critical to preventing future market gluts and ensuring that farmers have a reliable outlet for their produce during bumper harvest seasons.
PFAG also wants government to introduce a legal framework requiring public institutions to prioritise the purchase of locally produced rice and other agricultural commodities.
The proposed policy would apply to government ministries, departments and agencies, as well as state-owned enterprises, public schools, hospitals, prisons and the security services.
According to the Association, such a measure would create a guaranteed market for local farmers while reducing the country’s dependence on imported food products.
Push for rice import quotas
The farmers’ group further called for the full implementation of Ghana’s rice import quota policy, arguing that stricter regulation of imports would support the development of the domestic rice industry and encourage investment across the value chain.
PFAG maintained that long-term growth in the sector would also require significant investment in post-harvest infrastructure, including storage facilities, modern milling centres and market linkage platforms.
The Association noted that inadequate storage and processing capacity continue to contribute to post-harvest losses and weaken the competitiveness of locally produced rice against imported alternatives.
Food security concerns
PFAG warned that failure to address the current challenges could discourage rice production and threaten the gains made in recent years to boost domestic food output.
The Association stressed that supporting local rice farmers is essential not only for improving rural incomes but also for strengthening national food security and reducing pressure on foreign exchange reserves used to finance food imports.
It called on government to adopt a coordinated strategy that combines market protection, institutional reforms and infrastructure investment to build a sustainable and competitive rice industry.
The latest appeal comes amid growing calls from stakeholders across the agricultural sector for stronger policies to promote local production and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported staples.
Source: businesspostonline
