Ghana : CAG calls for three-month rice import moratorium, repeal of soya export restriction
Ghana’s Chamber of Agribusiness has warned of a grain market crisis, with 1.2 million tonnes of rice, maize and soya stuck due to pricing and cheap imports. It is calling for a three-month rice import moratorium, repeal of soya export restrictions, and creation of a strategic grain reserve to support farmers and stabilise prices.
The Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana (CAG) has urged the government to implement urgent policy measures to tackle what it described as a deepening crisis in the country’s grains market.
It said over 1.2 million metric tonnes of rice, maize and soya beans were currently stuck in warehouses and on farms due to market distortions and pricing challenges.
In a statement, the Chamber warned that the situation posed a serious threat to the livelihoods of farmers and grain processors and could collapse parts of the local agricultural value chain if not addressed.
It called for a three-month moratorium on rice imports to enable the clearance of existing local stocks.
While acknowledging that Ghana imports rice to supplement local consumption, the Chamber said large quantities of locally produced rice remained unsold.
It partly attributed this to cheaper imports and alleged inflows of substandard rice through unapproved routes, which it said undermined local production.
“We urgently call for an immediate three-month ban on rice importation to clear existing local stockpiles and provide relief to farmers and millers,” the Chamber stated.
It also called for the repeal of the Export and Import (Restriction on Exportation of Soya Beans) Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2432), arguing that the policy had led to a sharp fall in farm-gate prices and contributed to excess stocks in warehouses, discouraging further cultivation.
The Chamber also requested a coordinated audit and monitoring system involving the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Food and Drugs Authority and national security agencies to verify tax compliance and eliminate smuggled rice from the market.
Beyond emergency interventions, the CAG appealed for the establishment of a Strategic Grain Reserve Procurement Programme to enable the National Food Buffer Stock Company to purchase surplus grains directly from farmers.
It said the programme would stabilise prices, support farmers, and ensure a steady grain supply to the poultry, livestock and food processing industries.
“We must safeguard the investments of our local farmers and agribusinesses to build a food-secure and economically resilient Ghana,” the Chamber added.
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Source : CediRates
