The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Osuman Amoah, says the government has so far provided ₵100 million to purchase foodstuffs from farmers across the country.
According to him, farmers have produced enough to meet the country’s food needs, but many are unable to sell their produce due to limited funds for purchases.
He disclosed that the company has so far received about 60,000 metric tonnes of rice, 120,000 metric tonnes of maize, and large quantities of gari.
Mr. Amoah, however, cautioned that farmers remain at risk if additional funds are not released to mop up the remaining produce. He noted that the Minister for Food and Agriculture will soon present a proposal to Cabinet for an extra ₵100 million, bringing the total support to ₵200 million.
Citing an example, he mentioned farmers in Fumbisi, who have produced large quantities of paddy rice and are urgently seeking buyers, adding that the rice is currently being sold at ₵5 per kilogram.
Mr. Amoah assured that the government is committed to addressing the challenge and expressed support for the Chamber of Agriculture’s call to allow neighboring countries to purchase Ghana’s excess foodstuffs.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
