Buy grains from farmers - Gov’t directs buffer stock company

The government has instructed the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase surplus grains from farmers nationwide in anticipation of a bumper harvest this year.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) explained that the intervention is intended to prevent a market glut, given the combination of high yields expected in 2025 and unsold carry-over stocks from the 2024 season.

According to the Ministry, this is the first time NAFCO has been allocated such substantial resources to undertake large-scale grain purchases for storage. The initiative is designed to curb post-harvest losses while building up strategic food reserves to cushion the country against future shortages and emergencies.

MoFA assured farmers that NAFCO will be present on the market to buy their produce, thereby stabilising prices and ensuring a guaranteed market.

“The general public is assured that MoFA, working with all relevant agencies and stakeholders, is fully engaged in ensuring that every grain produced by Ghanaian farmers finds a sustainable and profitable market,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The policy is expected to bring relief to farmers, stabilise supply chains, and strengthen Ghana’s food security outlook.

The move follows recent warnings from the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG), which said the grain sector was “on the brink of crisis,” with more than 100,000 metric tonnes of maize and rice from the 2024 harvest still unsold.

CAG noted that farmers have been struggling under the weight of debt, often forced to sell below production cost, while local processors face collapse. It linked the situation to cheap imports and the smuggling of substandard grains into Ghana, which it said have distorted prices and undermined domestic producers.

The Chamber further alleged collusion between smugglers and corrupt border officials, warning that the illicit trade is depriving the state of much-needed revenue while threatening national food sovereignty.

“This not only jeopardises farmer incomes but also weakens the domestic value chain, making Ghana increasingly dependent on foreign imports,” it cautioned.