The National Coordinator of the Feed Ghana Programme, Bright Demordzi, has assured rice farmers facing market challenges that the government is taking steps to address the current glut in locally produced rice.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Tuesday, November 4, Mr. Demordzi acknowledged that rice farmers across parts of the country are struggling to find buyers for their produce.
He explained that the situation arose because production had outpaced market demand, and planning had not fully accounted for the scale of the recent harvest.
“If there’s a production issue, there will be difficulties. If there is a harvesting issue, there will be some difficulty. If there is transportation, there will be some difficulty. If there is even a market for the produce itself, there will be some difficulties. So, all along the line, you must have a plan for it,” he said.
Mr. Demordzi admitted that the current challenge was due to the unexpected bumper harvest following small-scale interventions.
“We were not expecting that huge production. We did small interventions because we’ve not fully rolled out all our plans. And quickly, we have a huge production,” he noted.
He said efforts were already underway to purchase the excess rice from the system to stabilise the market.
“We are now struggling to ensure that we buy the excess from the system. And we are on course. We are buying. And I think that in the next two to three weeks, this issue of the glut of the rice paddy will come down,” Mr. Demordzi assured.
The Feed Ghana Coordinator reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening market linkages and improving planning along the agricultural value chain to prevent similar challenges in the future.
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