The Regional Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association, Richard Akoka, says growing competition from imported rice and a lack of effective government intervention are pushing local farmers toward collapse.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Akoka said imported rice now dominates the market, largely due to lower production costs abroad and favourable exchange rate conditions that make foreign products more competitive.
He noted that the cost of producing rice locally remains significantly higher, as farmers in Ghana receive limited support compared to their counterparts in other countries, where subsidies reduce production costs.
According to him, local farmers also face high interest rates on loans, making it difficult to compete with imported rice.
Although there have been reports of a government ban on foreign rice entering Ghana through land borders, Mr. Akoka said the policy has not been effectively enforced.
“We learnt the government has banned the foreign ones from coming in through our borders, but they are still coming in,” he said.
He added that farmer groups have engaged authorities, including officials at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and relevant parliamentary bodies, but say those efforts have not yielded results.
“We have advocated and engaged the government. We have met the minister and even Parliament, but nothing has come out of it,” he said.
Mr. Akoka warned that many farmers are uncertain about the future of their businesses, with fears that the sector could collapse if urgent action is not taken.
“We are now sitting and waiting. If something happens, fine. If nothing happens, it means our business has collapsed,” he said.
He called for government intervention, particularly through buffer stock purchases to absorb excess produce and stabilise the market.
“If buffer stock can absorb the rice, it will help us continue. Otherwise, there is no business,” he said.
Despite the challenges, he urged farmers to remain calm as they await a response from authorities.
A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Gifty Eyram Kudiabor | Bolgatanga
