PFAG calls for six-month ban on rice imports to save local farmers

The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to immediately implement the proposed rice import quota policy, warning that delays could force many farmers to abandon rice production and undermine the country’s food security agenda.

According to a statement issued by PFAG’s National President, Douglas Annor, on Thursday, June 4, 2026, the association welcomed the government’s decision to introduce the policy but insisted that urgent action is needed to address the worsening rice glut affecting farmers nationwide.

The association said its independent assessment and field monitoring across major rice-growing regions revealed that more than 90 percent of rice farmers are currently holding significant unsold stocks, despite various government interventions.

“The urgency of the current glut demands immediate and decisive implementation. Delayed implementation will irrevocably defeat Ghana’s quest to achieve self-sufficiency in rice production, as farmers are rapidly losing the economic incentive to continue production,” the statement said.

PFAG warned that with a new farming season approaching, many rice farmers are considering exiting the sector due to the lack of reliable markets for their produce.

“As we approach the new farming season, thousands of rice farmers across the country have issued a grave warning that they will abandon rice production entirely unless an immediate and clear pathway to market their existing stocks is provided,” the statement noted.

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The association described the situation as alarming, arguing that although local farmers have produced large quantities of high-quality rice, imported rice continues to dominate the market.

PFAG said continuous importation of foreign rice, coupled with rampant smuggling across the country’s borders, is undermining local production and weakening the domestic rice value chain.

“Our observations and analysis across key farming communities expose a stark and troubling contradiction: while Ghanaian farmers have produced an abundance of high-quality local rice, the market continues to be flooded by imported foreign rice,” the statement said.

The association also raised concern over the inability of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase locally produced rice, despite government directives.

It said NAFCO’s failure to effectively perform its role has left farmers without a reliable buyer, worsening the marketing challenges confronting producers.

“The failure of NAFCO to act decisively has left farmers without a critical buyer of last resort, deepening the crisis and sending a demoralising signal to farming communities across the country,” it added.

To address the situation, PFAG called for a six-month moratorium on rice imports to allow farmers to clear existing stocks and stabilise prices. It also urged authorities to intensify efforts to curb smuggling and ensure public institutions prioritise locally produced rice.

The association further called for the restructuring of NAFCO, the establishment of a dedicated price stabilisation fund for rice and other strategic food crops, and increased investment in storage facilities, milling capacity, and market linkages.

PFAG noted that similar challenges are affecting producers of other staple crops, including maize, cassava, yam, soybean, and cowpea, many of whom are grappling with low prices, unsold produce, and post-harvest losses.

It therefore urged the government to adopt a broader Agricultural Market Stabilisation Policy to address market access challenges and protect farmers across key agricultural value chains.

“Farmers are watching, and they are waiting for action. The government must demonstrate, through immediate and concrete steps, that it values the men and women who feed this nation,” the statement concluded.

ANAS/MA

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