The spokesperson for the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Emmanuel Arthur, has said the state agency does not have the financial capacity to purchase all grains produced by local farmers, amid growing concerns from rice farmers over access to markets.
His comments follow complaints from some farmers who accuse NAFCO of failing to fully implement a directive by President John Dramani Mahama to procure locally produced rice for use in Ghana’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) feeding programme.
In March 2026, President Mahama directed NAFCO to begin buying rice from local farmers to supply schools under the programme, with the government allocating GH¢100 million to support the initiative.
However, some farmers say that despite the directive, schools continue to rely on imported rice while locally produced stocks remain unsold.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, May 5, Mr Arthur acknowledged the concerns but said financial constraints limit the company’s ability to absorb all available produce.
“If the government makes more funds available and we buy so much from these farmers, I am sure by now nobody will be complaining,” he said.
Mr Arthur noted that NAFCO understands the difficulties farmers face, particularly after investing heavily in production without guaranteed markets.
“We all pity them. We all know how difficult it is to farm in this country. So, when you finish, and you do not have a market for your produce, it is painful,” he stated.
He, however, stressed that while the company would prefer to purchase all available produce, current financial realities make that impossible.
“If we have the means today, we will go and mobilise everything that every farmer has, but financially it is not feasible,” he said.
The NAFCO spokesperson also disclosed that the full GH¢100 million allocated by the government has been released to the company, adding that procurement efforts are still ongoing.
“All the GH¢100 million has been released to us, but we have not finished using all of it in buying the rice. It is still ongoing,” he added.
