Farmers in the Volta Region are grappling with falling prices and limited market access despite recording a bumper harvest of major food staples, raising concerns about post-harvest losses and declining motivation among producers.
This concern was highlighted by Mr. Bismark Kwabla Kpobi, a concerned citizen and NDC activist, who noted that while Ghana has recently experienced improved agricultural output and reduced inflation compared to the economic challenges of 2022, the benefits of increased production are not reaching farmers.
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According to him, many farming communities, particularly within the Tongu areas of the Volta Region, have seen high yields of maize, cassava, gari, beans and other staples this season.
However, buyers are not purchasing in expected quantities, leading to falling farm-gate prices, limited storage for surplus produce, rising post-harvest losses, and growing financial strain on farmers forced to sell at very low prices
“Food is available in abundance, but there is no ready market,” he stressed, warning that a situation meant to be positive for national food security is turning into economic hardship for producers.
Mr. Kpobi recalled that Ghana previously faced severe food challenges driven by climate change, high input costs and inflation, which rose above 50 percent around 2022. Although food was expensive for consumers at the time, farmers were able to sell produce at relatively higher prices.
With inflation easing and production improving in recent years, the country is now experiencing strong output, particularly in cassava, where Ghana remains one of Africa’s leading producers.
He cautioned that agriculture carries both economic and political significance, noting that market frustrations among farmers could easily translate into dissatisfaction if not addressed.
He observed that some political narratives are already comparing previous high-inflation periods, when farmers reportedly had ready markets, to the current situation where produce is abundant but sales are slow.
To address the situation, he proposed several urgent measures:
1. Activate Buffer Stock Purchases
Government, through the national buffer stock system, should procure excess maize, gari and cassava products to stabilise prices and reduce losses.
2. Review Food Importation During Peak Harvests
He suggested regulating imports of similar food items from neighbouring countries during harvest seasons to protect local farmers.
3. Ensure Fair Pricing Across the Value Chain
Authorities must ensure that reductions in farm-gate prices are reflected in urban market prices so farmers are not disadvantaged while consumers still pay high costs.
4. Expand Institutional Purchasing
Programmes such as school feeding, hospitals and other public institutions should prioritise buying locally produced food to create a reliable market for farmers.
Protecting Farmer Confidence
Mr. Kpobi warned that failure to secure markets could discourage youth participation in agriculture and undermine rural confidence, despite government efforts to promote farming as a viable livelihood.
“A bumper harvest is only a blessing when there is a market,” he emphasised, urging swift coordination between government agencies, market actors and institutions to convert the current surplus into long-term food security and income stability.
He concluded that the Volta Region’s production surge should be treated as an opportunity to strengthen Ghana’s agricultural economy rather than allowed to become a burden on farmers.
