News Guide Africa

Tag: Feed Ghana Program

  • CAG declares national agricultural emergency …as farmers struggle to sell harvest amid Feed Ghana Coordinator’s assurance

    CAG declares national agricultural emergency …as farmers struggle to sell harvest amid Feed Ghana Coordinator’s assurance

    The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has declared a national agricultural emergency, warning of an imminent collapse of Ghana’s grain sector as more than 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice, maize, and soya beans remain unsold across the country.

    According to the Chamber, this situation represents a “paradoxical crisis of surplus amidst production deficits”, requiring urgent government intervention to stabilise the domestic grain market, protect farmers’ livelihoods, and safeguard national food security.

    This is contained in a press release signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), Anthony Kofituo Morrison.

    Unsold Stocks Amid Policy Gaps

    Field data from CAG reveals that while Ghana continues to face production shortfalls in key commodities, large quantities of harvested grains are stranded in warehouses and factories due to market distortions, import pressures, and policy inconsistencies.

    The Chamber said Ghana’s annual rice consumption stands at 1.9 million metric tonnes, with local production averaging 900,000 metric tonnes.

    Despite the shortfall, nearly two years’ worth of both milled and paddy rice remain unsold, a situation worsened by smuggling and the inflow of expired rice through unapproved routes, leading to tax losses and further market disruptions.

    Similarly, Ghana consumes about 3.3 million metric tonnes of maize annually against a production capacity of 2.5 million metric tonnes, while soya bean production of 225,000 to 250,000 metric tonnes represents only about a third of the country’s potential.

    Export Restrictions Deepening Market Distortion

    The Chamber blamed the Export and Import (Restriction on Exportation of Soya Beans) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2432), for aggravating the market imbalance. The regulation, introduced to secure local supply for poultry and aquaculture industries, has instead triggered a price collapse, with farm gate prices dropping from GH¢650 to GH¢400 per bag.

    CAG stated that thousands of bags of soya beans remain locked up in warehouses across the Northern and Southern regions, discouraging farmers from further cultivation.

    “The policy has had unintended consequences farmers are shifting to other crops due to restricted markets and poor prices,” the Chamber said.

    Immediate Measures Proposed

    To address the growing crisis, CAG is calling on the government to implement a three-month moratorium on rice imports to allow local stockpiles to be cleared and create market stability for farmers and millers.

    The Chamber is also demanding the immediate repeal of L.I. 2432 to restore competitive pricing, eliminate warehouse congestion, and encourage expanded soya bean cultivation.

    In addition, CAG wants “the Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Security, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, and Food and Drugs Authority to jointly conduct a comprehensive audit of rice on the market to verify tax compliance, enforce quality standards, and eliminate smuggled or expired products.”

    Strategic State Intervention and Long-Term Framework

    Beyond emergency measures, CAG has proposed that the government establish a Strategic Grain Reserve Procurement Programme through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase surplus grains at fair and sustainable prices.

    The programme, the Chamber said, should serve as a price stabilisation mechanism, ensuring predictable prices for both farmers and grain-based industries. It would also enable Ghana to meet its obligations under the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Storage Strategy.

    The Chamber further recommended a five-year Ghana Rice Production Strategy, led by the Ministries of Food and Agriculture and Trade and Industry, to align import quotas with rising local production capacity.

    It also urged investment in research, irrigation, mechanisation, and agro-processing to enhance productivity and competitiveness.

    Additionally, CAG is advocating for a comprehensive Agriculture for Economic Transformation Policy to harmonise agricultural support initiatives and drive private sector investment in value addition.

    Safeguarding Farmers’ Investments

    CAG emphasised that protecting local farmers and agribusinesses is essential to achieving food security and economic resilience.

    “We must safeguard the investments of our local farmers and agribusinesses to build a food-secure and economically resilient Ghana.

    “Decisive action on these recommendations will not only resolve the current grain glut but reposition Ghana’s grains sector as a driver of sustainable growth and national resilience.”

    Feed Ghana Coordinator’s assurance of ease within weeks

    However, the National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, Bright Demordzi, has assured rice farmers facing market challenges that the government is taking steps to address the current glut in locally produced rice.

    Mr. Demordzi, reacting to the current situation, acknowledged that rice farmers across parts of the country are struggling to find buyers for their produce.

    He explained that the situation arose because production had outpaced market demand, and planning had not fully accounted for the scale of the recent harvest.

    “If there’s a production issue, there will be difficulties. If there is a harvesting issue, there will be some difficulty. If there is a transportation issue, there will be some difficulty. If there is even a market for the produce itself, there will be some difficulties. So, all along the line, you must have a plan for it,” he said.

    Mr. Demordzi admitted that the current challenge was due to the unexpected bumper harvest following small-scale interventions.

    “We were not expecting that huge production. We did small interventions because we’ve not fully rolled out all our plans. And quickly, we have a huge production,” he noted.

    He said efforts were already underway to purchase the excess rice from the system to stabilise the market.

    “We are now struggling to ensure that we buy the excess from the system. And we are on course. We are buying. And I think that in the next two to three weeks, this issue of the glut of the rice paddy will come down,” Mr. Demordzi assured.

    The Feed Ghana Coordinator reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening market linkages and improving planning along the agricultural value chain to prevent similar challenges in the future.

     

  • Ghana’s Food Sufficiency Agenda: stakeholders express deep concerns

    “Stakeholders express optimism and caution as Ghana launches its Feed Ghana food security initiative.”

     

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    Government’s efforts to tackle Ghana’s food security challenges with the launch of its Feed Ghana Programme have met with significant stakeholders concerns.

     

    While some are optimistic of the outcome, others are skeptical fearing the usual political interference could derail efforts in the right direction. The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA) has expressed strong confidence in the Feed Ghana Programme, describing it as a transformative initiative capable of significantly enhancing Ghana’s food systems.

     

    However, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) is calling on the government to avoid political interference in the rollout of the newly launched Feed Ghana Initiative. According to the Association, political involvement in the distribution of agricultural inputs under the previous Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Programme—particularly in its second phase—significantly undermined the programme’s impact. They fear a repeat could jeopardize the success of the current initiative.

     

    “Now that we’ve transitioned from PFJ to Feed Ghana, we must avoid the mistakes of the past. Political interference must be completely ruled out,” the PFAG Executive Director Bismark Nortey said in an interview last week following the launch of the Feed Ghana Initiative. “The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has competent technical staff at the national, regional, and district levels who are capable of managing this programme effectively. Let’s allow them to lead. Politicians should take a step back.”

     

    PFAG believes that empowering technical experts rather than political appointees is key to ensuring the sustainability and success of agricultural policies in Ghana.

     

    Spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama, the Feed Ghana Initiative is a cornerstone of the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA). Its objectives include modernizing farming practices, increasing food production, improving agricultural infrastructure, and establishing agro-industrial zones across the country.

     

    The initiative also aims to generate employment, reduce food inflation, and promote national food self-sufficiency.

     

    Meanwhile, President of the Executive Council of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA), Anim-Somuah noted that the programme arrives at a critical time, as organized farmers are actively seeking opportunities to scale up their operations and boost productivity.

     

    “As farmers, we have positioned ourselves to embrace this opportunity, expand our farms and feed this country. It is not beyond our scope or horizon to do this,” he stated.

     

    According to Anim-Somuah, GAPFA is not just any farming group, but a well-established force in Ghana’s agricultural landscape, with a dynamic network of around 800 active poultry farmers. In addition, many non-members frequently rely on the association for their poultry-related needs.

     

    “We can help in this direction, because the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association can pride itself on being the largest organized poultry farmer association in Ghana. We can boast of the greatest membership,” he noted confidently.

     

    In a sector often dominated by men, GAPFA also distinguishes itself with one of the largest women farmer groups in the country—an asset that, according to Anim-Somuah, uniquely positions them to help drive the success of the Feed Ghana Programme.

     

    “Our numbers give us strength. With them, we can support this programme and support it very well,” he emphasized.

     

    Consequently, many economists have called on the government to prioritize agricultural productivity as a buffer against growing global trade tensions.

     

    This comes after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has just revised its global economic growth forecast for 2025 down to 2.8%, a notable drop from the 3.3% projection made in January.

     

    The downward revision is largely attributed to escalating trade disputes—especially between the United States and its trading partners—stemming from new tariffs.

     

    Among such economists is, Prof. Godfred Bokpin, who has shared his view that the current economic situation should be a turning point for Ghana to revamp its agricultural sector.

     

    “If you look at Ghana, we’re not even producing enough to feed ourselves, let alone think about exporting,” Prof. Bokpin said. “We rely heavily on imports from countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—so there’s definitely room to grow.”

     

    He emphasized that current challenges also present opportunities: “We have the potential to transform our economy through agriculture, agribusiness, and agro-processing. Once we achieve self-sufficiency, we can look toward exporting to neighbouring countries. Africa’s food deficit runs into billions of dollars—there’s a huge market waiting.”