The government has directed the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase surplus grains from farmers across the country for storage, following projections of a bumper harvest in 2025.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) said the decision is aimed at addressing a possible glut on the market, given the expected high yields this season coupled with unsold carry-over stocks from the 2024 harvest.
According to the Ministry, this is the first time since the establishment of NAFCO that such significant resources have been made available to enable large-scale grain purchases for storage.
Officials explained that the move will help minimise post-harvest losses while guaranteeing the availability of strategic food reserves to safeguard the country against future shortages and emergencies.
MoFA further urged farmers to remain calm and assured them that NAFCO will be active in the market to buy their produce, ensuring a ready market and stabilizing prices.
“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 intervention is expected to provide relief to farmers, stabilise food supply, and strengthen Ghana’s food security outlook.
The move comes after concerns from the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) that 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 said the glut worsened by cheap imports and the smuggling of substandard grains has trapped farmers in debt, forced many to sell below production cost, and threatened the survival of local processors.
“With the 2025 harvest season fast approaching, the problem could intensify, undermining livelihoods, collapsing mills, and placing national food security at risk,” the Chamber warned.
It also raised alarm over smuggled rice and maize evading duties and quality checks, which are flooding the Ghanaian market at artificially low prices. CAG alleged collusion between smugglers and corrupt border officials, stressing that the illicit trade is depriving the government of critical tax revenue.
“This not only jeopardises farmer incomes but also weakens the domestic value chain, making Ghana increasingly dependent on foreign imports and eroding food sovereignty,” the Chamber noted.
