A rice farmer and agribusiness operator, Joseph Akanliksiuk Akan-Nyaatemi of JessiJovi Farms, has raised concerns over growing challenges facing farmers, particularly the lack of market access and increasing financial pressure.
Speaking on Daybreak Upper East on A1 Radio, he said many farmers who invested heavily in the 2025 farming season are now facing significant losses, with large quantities of rice left unsold. He revealed that he currently has more than 600 bags of rice in storage without buyers, despite cultivating over 100 acres last year.
“If you want over 600 bags, I still have over 600 bags of rice lying there—no market. Last year alone, I cultivated over 100 acres, and all the rice we harvested is still unsold,” he said.
According to him, the situation has triggered a chain of financial difficulties, as farmers who took loans to support production are now unable to repay them. He said banks are pursuing loan repayments and, in some cases, targeting guarantors, many of whom are salaried workers.
He further highlighted the rising cost of inputs such as fertilizer, which forced many farmers to rely on credit. However, with no returns from sales, farmers are struggling to meet their financial obligations, including payments owed to service providers such as combine harvester operators.
Mr. Akan-Nyaatemi also pointed to post-harvest challenges, noting that some farmers cannot afford proper storage materials such as sacks, forcing them to store rice under poor conditions that risk spoilage.
“Last year, fertilizer prices were very high, so we couldn’t finance it from our pockets. We went to the banks, and now they are chasing our guarantors, even threatening to block their salaries. It is a long chain of people suffering. The surprising thing is that we couldn’t even afford sacks to bag the rice,” he said.
He attributed the marketing challenges to a sharp drop in demand, explaining that traders who previously bought rice in large quantities are no longer returning due to low patronage in urban markets. This has led to a decline in prices, worsening farmers’ losses.
He added that even local rice mills and factories are overwhelmed with stock, as processed rice remains unsold due to a lack of buyers.
The situation, he warned, could have serious implications for future food production, as many farmers may be unable or unwilling to cultivate crops in the 2026 season due to accumulated debts and uncertainty.
“The challenge is that we may not be able to farm in 2026. That is the big fear. We owe people and are unable to pay them. Even suppliers we usually pay after harvest have not received anything. If we cannot pay, how do we go back to them for support again?” he said.
“Our debtors are chasing us, and we don’t know what to tell them. Nationwide, this will have an impact because if farmers cannot farm, the food inflation gains we are seeing today cannot be sustained. In 2027 or 2028, there could be a food crisis,” he added.
He also expressed concern over the implementation of policies intended to support farmers, including plans for institutions such as schools and hospitals to procure locally produced rice. He said such measures are yet to benefit farmers directly.
“One measure the government announced was for schools and hospitals to buy local rice directly from farmers, but it seems these policies exist only on paper. Even buffer stock purchases do not reach us directly,” he said.
He is therefore calling for urgent and practical interventions to address marketing challenges and provide relief to struggling farmers.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
