Dr Charles Nyaaba, the Chief Executive Officer of the Upper East Farmers’ Cooperative Credit Union, has urged the Government to tighten the importation of food commodities, particularly rice, to create a ready market for locally produced crops and protect Ghanaian farmers.
He said the influx of imported food products, much of which entered the country through unapproved border routes, was undermining local agricultural production by flooding markets and leaving farmers unable to sell their produce.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Bolgatanga, Dr Nyaaba expressed concern over the growing frustration among farmers who had invested heavily in production but could not find buyers.
“Our number one recommendation is that government should stop the influx of illegally imported rice that comes through unapproved borders. That is the major cause of the market challenges confronting our farmers,” he said.
He noted that despite government efforts through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) to purchase maize and rice from farmers, the quantities procured represented less than 10 per cent of the available produce.
“Government has started buying maize and rice from some farmer groups, and I commend that effort, but the quantity being purchased is highly insignificant compared to what is available,” he said.
Dr Nyaaba observed that large quantities of rice and maize remained in warehouses across farming communities because buyers were unavailable, discouraging many farmers from expanding production.
“I have travelled to farming communities in Bongo, Sandema and other districts, and you still find warehouses full of rice. Some farmers have even brought their produce outside to dry because it has remained unsold for so long,” he said.
He explained that the inability to market produce had become one of the biggest disincentives to farming, saying farmers questioned the value of increasing production when they could not recover their investments.
“Farmers are asking, ‘If I receive fertiliser, produce and still cannot sell, what is the essence?’ Agriculture is not just about production; it is about producing and earning income,” he said.
Dr Nyaaba urged government to strengthen border controls to curb the influx of imported food commodities, some of which, he claimed, entered the country illegally and in some cases had expired.
“If we stop the influx of these commodities, it will automatically create a huge market for local farmers. Once farmers are assured of a market, their enthusiasm to produce will increase,” he said.
He also suggested that government should regulate food imports based on the country’s production deficit rather than allowing unrestricted importation.
According to him, if local rice production fell short of national consumption requirements, government should only issue import licences to bridge the deficit while protecting local producers from unfair competition.
Drawing comparisons with neighbouring Burkina Faso, Dr Nyaaba said authorities there had implemented measures to protect local producers by restricting imports, a move he believed had contributed to the country’s agricultural growth.
He called on government to emulate such measures and ensure policies promoted domestic production and improved incomes for farmers.
Dr Nyaaba also urged the government to fulfil its commitment to source more food for the School Feeding Programme from local farmers, saying increased local procurement would significantly reduce post-harvest losses and stimulate agricultural production.
