A coalition of major agricultural actors in Ghana has announced a nationwide boycott of the 2025 Farmers’ Day celebrations, citing worsening conditions in the food production sector. The groups—made up of rice producers and millers, maize farmers, mechanization service providers, input dealers, apex farmer associations, and agribusiness stakeholders—say the boycott will affect all district, regional, and national events.
In a press release cited by A1 Radio, the coalition explained that the decision stems from deep frustration over government inaction despite repeated assurances that locally grown produce would be purchased through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
On September 23, 2025, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture pledged to procure every grain of rice and maize produced by local farmers. Months later, however, the farmers say no concrete steps have been taken to honor this commitment.
The situation has left many producers unable to sell their harvests, even as markets across the country are flooded with cheap, expired, and illegally smuggled imported rice.
This imported rice, allegedly repackaged and distributed by politically connected cartels, finds its way onto the market without proper taxation or inspection. These practices, the coalition argues, have severely weakened local farmers who cannot compete on price and are now sinking into debt.
Currently, more than 200,000 metric tons of paddy rice from the 2024 season remain unsold in the Upper East, Northern, and North East regions.
Projections from the National Rice Development Programme estimate that Ghana’s 2025 rice harvest will reach 1.5 million metric tons, up from 1.3 million in 2024. Regional production estimates include 300,000 MT from the Upper East, 400,000 MT from the North East, 300,000 MT from the Northern Region, 50,000 MT from Savannah, 20,000 MT from Upper West, and 100,000 MT from Volta. Much of this produce is reportedly sitting in warehouses without buyers.
The coalition is therefore demanding immediate government intervention. It is calling for the suspension of all foreign rice imports for six months beginning November 2025, accompanied by reinforced border security measures; the development of a medium- to long-term importation strategy based on national production capacity, allowing only minimal imports to cover shortfalls; and a policy requiring schools, hospitals, prisons, and security agencies to procure exclusively Ghana-grown rice and maize.
The group further urges the release of emergency funding to NAFCO to absorb surplus maize and rice and the establishment of a guaranteed minimum price for these staples to protect farmers from market volatility.
According to the coalition, the boycott is not intended to undermine the spirit of Farmers’ Day but to expose the hypocrisy of celebrating farmers while their livelihoods deteriorate. The statement notes that Farmers’ Day has become symbolic rather than impactful, as farmers continue to suffer enormous losses while policymakers look on.
Organizations endorsing the boycott include the Association of Rice Producers and Millers, the Chamber of Agribusiness, the Association of Soya Value Chain Actors, the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), the Ghana National Association of Farmers and Fishermen (GNAFF), the General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), CropLife Ghana, GRIB, NASTAG, and several millers, processors, market women, and traders’ groups.
The statement was issued by the Committee for the Promotion of Local Rice and Other Commodities.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
