PFAG urges immediate implementation of rice import quota to prevent farmer exodus
The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called on the government to urgently implement the proposed rice import quota policy, warning that further delays could discourage farmers from continuing rice cultivation and threaten the country’s food security objectives.
In a statement issued on June 4, 2026, and signed by its National President, Douglas Annor, the association welcomed the government’s decision to introduce the policy but stressed that swift action is needed to address the growing rice glut affecting producers across the country.
According to PFAG, assessments and field monitoring conducted in major rice-producing regions indicate that more than 90 percent of rice farmers are currently holding large volumes of unsold stock despite various interventions aimed at supporting the sector.
“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 association stated.
PFAG warned that with a new farming season approaching, many farmers are considering abandoning rice production 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 added.
The association described the situation as a troubling contradiction, noting that while local farmers have produced substantial quantities of quality rice, imported products continue to dominate the domestic market.
PFAG argued that excessive rice imports and persistent smuggling activities are undermining local production efforts and weakening Ghana’s 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,” it said.
The association also expressed concern over the inability of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase locally produced rice as expected.
According to PFAG, NAFCO’s limited market intervention has left farmers without a dependable buyer of last resort, worsening the challenges facing 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,” the statement noted.
To address the situation, PFAG proposed a six-month suspension of rice imports to allow local farmers to sell existing stocks and stabilise market prices. It also called for stronger border enforcement measures to curb rice smuggling and urged public institutions to prioritise the purchase and consumption of locally produced rice.
The association further recommended restructuring NAFCO, establishing a dedicated price stabilisation fund for rice and other strategic crops, and increasing investment in storage infrastructure, milling facilities and market access systems.
PFAG noted that similar marketing challenges are affecting producers of other staple crops, including maize, cassava, yam, soybean and cowpea, many of whom are struggling with unsold produce, low farmgate prices and post-harvest losses.
As a result, the association called for the introduction of a comprehensive Agricultural Market Stabilisation Policy to improve market access and support 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.
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