More than 200,000 metric tonnes of locally produced rice remain unsold across major producing areas, according to the Rice Producers, Rice Millers, and Maize Farmers Association, which says no official engagement has taken place despite the government’s pledge to buy the surplus.
Speaking on Citi FM on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the association’s spokesperson, Mr Charles Nyaba, said the glut has left many farmers unable to sell last year’s stock as the new harvest begins.
“We are talking no less than 200,000 metric tonnes of rice, both paddy and milled,” Mr Nyaba said. “Farmers cannot sell what they harvested last year, and now we are harvesting again without market access. It’s becoming a very big issue.”
He said that along the Bolgatanga–Yagaba stretch and other parts of the Upper East Region, large quantities of rice have been left by the roadside with no buyers.
“All the roadsides are filled with rice, and no women are even coming there to buy,” he said.
Mr Nyaba explained that harvesting activities have slowed because combine-harvester operators, who normally take part of the produce as payment, are refusing rice this season since they also cannot sell.
“Most of the combine harvesters are also farmers, and when they take the rice, there’s no market for it. So farmers cannot even harvest now,” he said.
He added that while farmers are aware that the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), announced plans to purchase excess grains through the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), there has been no direct contact or purchase so far.
“We are aware that the government said Buffer Stock will buy, but as we speak, no one has come to engage us,” Mr Nyaba said. “We approached the National Food Buffer Stock, and they said they were buying, but when I called most of our producing areas, no single farmer has been able to confirm that.”
In September 2025, MoFA directed NAFCO to begin buying surplus grains following projections of a bumper harvest to prevent post-harvest losses. The ministry also introduced new minimum farm-gate prices for maize, rice, and gari, advising producers not to sell below those rates.
Mr Nyaba said that without immediate purchases, farmers risk financial collapse after taking loans for production.
“It’s about life and death for the farmer now,” he said. “We are not asking for fertiliser subsidies this time. We just want government to release money to Buffer Stock and make sure they buy directly from farmers. Otherwise, we’ll lose everything.”
He also urged authorities to stop the inflow of cheap or expired foreign rice, saying it continues to distort the market and weaken local production.
“When imported and smuggled rice keep entering the market unchecked, it becomes difficult for us to sell what we produce,” he said.
