Ghana Rice Farmers Crisis: 1 Million Metric Tons of Unsold Paddy Rice Rotting in Warehouses

Published: November 10, 2025

Introduction

In Ghana, rice farmers are facing a severe crisis with over 1 million metric tons of paddy rice—valued at approximately GH₵5 billion—lying unsold in warehouses and on farms across the country. This unsold rice Ghana situation has led to widespread protests, highlighting deep challenges in the local agriculture sector. Farmers from rice, maize, and soya bean production are voicing frustration over government policies that they claim favor cheap rice imports, undermining domestic production.

The Association of Ghana Rice Producers and Processors staged a demonstration in Tamale on Monday, reading a petition that underscores the urgency. This Ghana rice farmers crisis threatens livelihoods and food security, as produce risks rotting without intervention. Understanding this issue is crucial for grasping broader Ghana agriculture challenges, including import competition and inadequate support systems.

Analysis

The core of the Ghana rice farmers crisis stems from a mismatch between local production capacity and market access. Paddy rice, the unprocessed form harvested directly from fields, accumulates in warehouses due to limited buyers. This buildup, exceeding 1 million metric tons, equates to significant economic loss for smallholder farmers who invest heavily in cultivation.

Root Causes of Unsold Paddy Rice

Farmers attribute the problem to unchecked rice imports, described as affordable yet substandard, flooding the Ghanaian market. Despite government initiatives to promote local rice production, import volumes continue to rise, creating trade imbalances. The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), tasked with purchasing surplus produce to stabilize prices, has not fulfilled promises to buy additional rice and maize, leaving farmers without reliable off-takers.

Impact on the Agricultural Value Chain

Primary millers have suspended operations amid high input costs and limited credit access, exacerbating losses. Farmers are forced to sell at giveaway prices or abandon harvests entirely. This ripple effect impacts the entire value chain, from producers to processors, in Ghana’s rice, maize, and soya sectors.

Broader Economic Context

Agricultural experts point to structural issues like inconsistent policies, lack of price protection mechanisms, and poor coordination among producers, millers, and regulators. These factors hinder Ghana’s food self-sufficiency agenda, making the country vulnerable to external market fluctuations.

Summary

Ghana rice farmers, alongside maize and soya producers, are in distress as 1 million metric tons of paddy rice worth GH₵5 billion rots unsold. A Tamale protest by the Association of Ghana Rice Producers and Processors accused the government of neglecting local agriculture in favor of imports. Key grievances include NAFCO’s unmet purchase commitments and rising production costs. Demands focus on import controls, mandatory local procurement, and financial support to safeguard the sector.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For Ghana rice farmers navigating the unsold paddy rice crisis, practical steps can mitigate immediate risks while advocating for systemic change.

Storage and Preservation Strategies

To prevent further rotting of unsold rice in warehouses, farmers should prioritize proper drying of paddy rice to below 14% moisture content, using tarpaulins or ventilated storage. Regular aeration and pest control with approved fumigants can extend shelf life. Exploring cooperative storage facilities shared among rice, maize, and soya farmers reduces individual costs.

Alternative Market Access

Connect with private millers or exporters willing to buy at competitive rates. Participate in farmer cooperatives to negotiate bulk sales. Digital platforms like farm-to-table apps can link producers directly to consumers, bypassing traditional middlemen in Ghana’s agriculture challenges.

Financial Management Tips

Seek low-interest loans from agricultural banks or microfinance institutions tailored for rice millers and farmers. Diversify into high-demand crops like soya beans, especially with potential export ban lifts. Track input costs meticulously to inform future planting decisions.

Points of Caution

While addressing the Ghana rice farmers crisis, stakeholders must heed these warnings to avoid worsening the situation.

• Avoid distress sales at giveaway prices, as this perpetuates low market values for local produce.
• Beware of unregulated credit sources that lead to debt traps amid rising input costs.
• Do not abandon harvests prematurely; explore all preservation options before disposal.
• Monitor smuggling activities, which undermine legitimate import quota systems.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards to maintain consumer trust in Ghanaian rice.

Comparison

The Ghana rice farmers crisis mirrors challenges in other African nations striving for food self-sufficiency. In Nigeria, similar protests over smuggled rice imports led to border closures in 2019, temporarily boosting local paddy rice production by 20%. Kenya’s experience with maize surpluses highlights the role of buffer stocks like NAFCO, where effective procurement stabilized prices during 2022 gluts.

Ghana vs. Regional Peers

Unlike Ghana’s rising rice imports, Tanzania enforced strict quotas, reducing imports by 30% and increasing local milling capacity. In contrast to Ghana agriculture challenges, Rwanda’s minimum support prices for rice have ensured farmer incomes, preventing warehouse rotting. These comparisons underscore the need for consistent policies in Ghana.

Historical Context in Ghana

Past initiatives like the Planting for Food and Jobs program aimed to curb rice imports but faced implementation gaps, similar to current NAFCO issues. Learning from these, sustained enforcement could resolve the 1 million metric tons unsold rice dilemma.

Legal Implications

Ghana’s agricultural policies carry legal weight under frameworks like the Ghana Standards Authority regulations on imports and the Food and Drugs Authority guidelines for rice quality. Farmers’ demands for a six-month moratorium on rice and maize imports align with existing powers under the Customs Act, allowing temporary bans for protective measures.

Import Quotas and Smuggling Laws

A transparent import quota system would comply with WTO agreements while protecting local markets. Clamping down on rice smuggling invokes the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) Act, with penalties for violators. Mandating government institutions to procure Ghanaian rice could stem from Public Procurement Act amendments prioritizing local content.

NAFCO and Contract Transparency

Requiring NAFCO to publish contract details ensures accountability under the Right to Information Act. Lifting the soya bean export ban would require parliamentary approval, balancing farmer investments with trade laws. Non-compliance risks legal challenges from affected producers.

Conclusion

The Ghana rice farmers crisis, with 1 million metric tons of paddy rice rotting unsold, demands urgent policy action to protect local agriculture. Farmers’ calls for import moratoriums, NAFCO reforms, minimum farmgate prices, and low-interest loans represent a push for a level playing field. By prioritizing Ghanaian produce, the government can secure food systems, preserve livelihoods, and advance self-sufficiency. This “desperate cry for help,” as voiced by Abdul-Aziz Jawhara, must not go unheeded to prevent widespread losses in the rice, maize, and soya sectors.

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