Rice farmers in Akyem Oda-Nkwanta, a community in the Birim Central Municipality of the Eastern Region, are facing a dire crisis. Despite harvesting hundreds of tonnes of rice, they are struggling to find buyers a situation that is putting their livelihoods at risk.
At several rice milling sites in the area, large quantities of bagged rice lie unsold, exposed to the elements and at risk of spoilage. Women farmers, in particular, are bearing the heaviest burden. Many say they are unable to provide for their families or support their children’s education due to the lack of income from their harvest.
Farmers speaking to the media revealed that they are often forced to sell their rice to middlemen at extremely low prices. With limited access to larger and more profitable markets, they are unable to earn a fair return on their investment. Poor road infrastructure and transportation challenges have further isolated them from potential buyers, leading to increased post-harvest losses.
The situation is compounded by falling prices during harvest seasons, as well as limited access to credit and financial support. These ongoing challenges have left many farmers in debt and struggling to sustain their operations.
The farmers are now appealing to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), agricultural associations, business institutions, and government agencies to step in and purchase the surplus rice. They are also calling for targeted subsidies and support to help improve market access and reduce financial strain.
Local rice mill operators are backing the farmers’ plea, stressing that despite producing high-quality rice at competitive prices, they are unable to attract consistent buyers. Many are facing growing financial losses and say immediate intervention is needed.
Both farmers and processors are urgently calling on the government to purchase the unsold stock and help relieve the economic pressure on the communit
