Rice farmers in Ghana’s Upper East Region are facing a worsening crisis, with large quantities of harvested rice remaining unsold months after production, according to the Regional Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association, Richard Akoka.
“I can tell you that since we harvested the rice up till now, about 80% to 90% is still lying there. Not even a single bag has been bought,” he said.
Speaking in an interview on A1 Radio, Mr. Akoka said the lack of market access has left farmers stranded, despite efforts to reduce prices to attract buyers.
He said farmers had expected relief through government intervention, particularly through buffer stock purchases following earlier assurances and reported budgetary allocations. However, he noted that farmers in the region have yet to benefit from any such measures.
“In my region, I don’t think anyone can boldly say they have benefitted even one bag from that allocation. If it is yet to come, we don’t know, but we haven’t seen anything,” he said.
The situation is further worsened by the lack of adequate storage facilities, forcing many farmers to store their produce in open spaces and exposing it to potential damage as the rainy season approaches.
Some farmers have already reported losses due to spoilage.
Mr. Akoka said the financial impact has been severe, with many farmers struggling to repay loans and meet household needs.
He added that farmers have staged demonstrations, submitted petitions, and engaged the media to draw attention to their concerns, but say there has been no meaningful response.
“We have demonstrated, sent petitions, and spoken on radio and television, but we are still not getting results,” he said.
Describing the situation as dire, Mr. Akoka warned that many farmers may abandon rice production if urgent support is not provided.
“The situation of rice farming in Ghana is very terrible now. I don’t think many people will go into it this year,” he said.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
