Farmers hit hard by the nationwide maize glut are set to receive major relief as President John Dramani Mahama has directed the release of an additional GH₵200 million to mop up surplus maize and stabilise collapsing market prices. The decision follows weeks of complaints from farmers who say the glut has left them unable to sell their produce, leading to significant losses.
Announcing the intervention at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi, President Mahama said the government’s earlier release of GH₵100 million to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) had already been exhausted, yet large quantities of maize remain unsold on the market.
“Our farmers are worried. There’s a glut on the market, so I asked the Finance Minister to provide GH₵100 million to Buffer Stock to buy up the surplus maize,” he said. “They have finished purchasing with the first GH₵100 million, but there’s still a lot of maize on the market and prices remain low.”
He explained that the additional GH₵200 million is intended to clear the remaining surplus and store it for later use when demand rises.
“I’ve directed the Finance Minister to release an additional GH₵200 million to buy the remaining glut and store it for future use,” the President stated.
President Mahama added that similar interventions would be extended to other crops currently experiencing oversupply, including rice. “It is the same situation with rice. I’ve instructed Buffer Stock to purchase the excess and keep it as well,” he noted.
He also highlighted new measures to support poultry farmers, revealing that locally produced eggs will be incorporated into the School Feeding Programme to boost demand and provide immediate market access for poultry producers.
“Food grown by our farmers should not go to waste. No Ghanaian farmer should suffer losses simply because they produced in abundance,” President Mahama emphasised.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting farmers, stabilising agricultural markets, and securing the nation’s food supply.
