ACCRA – July 23, 2026
Rice farmers are calling on government to prioritize measures in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget to help them market their produce.
The call was made ahead of the Finance Minister’s budget presentation scheduled for Thursday, July 23, 2026.
According to Dr. Charles Nyaaba, Spokesperson for the Rice Producers and Processors Association of Ghana (RIPAG), the cost of production continues to rise. Farmers are paying more for fertiliser, agrochemicals, mechanisation services, labour and other essential inputs.
“If the necessary attention is not given and many farmers decide not to produce this year, next year we may see food inflation rising again because food prices have largely driven the decline in inflation we are seeing now, yet farmers are the ones bearing the cost of those gains,” he warned.
Dr. Nyaaba said farmers are expecting the Finance Minister to create market opportunities for locally produced rice.
He acknowledged the government’s GH¢200 million allocation to purchase rice and maize from local farmers, but said the impact has been marginal.
“Some purchases are being made, and contractors have been engaged to buy the commodities, but what they are buying is less than one per cent of what farmers have produced,” he stated.
He also cited the influx of imported rice and maize through Ghana’s northern borders as a major challenge, making it difficult for local farmers to compete.
_Article: Daily Newsflash_
_#Agriculture #RiceFarmers #RIPAG #MidYearBudget2026 #FoodSecurity #GhanaEconomy #BuyGhanaRice_
