Farmers in Atebubu-Amantin in the Bono East Region have issued a passionate appeal to government to urgently release funds to the Buffer Stock Company to purchase their produce, as tonnes of food items risk going to waste due to lack of buyers.
The farmers made the call during an engagement with the Minority Caucus, which is currently on a nationwide tour interacting with agricultural producers across key farming communities.
According to the farmers, the situation has become dire, with prices of staple crops collapsing drastically.
A bag of maize, which previously sold for about GH₵1,600, is now going for as low as GH₵200, leaving farmers unable to recover their production costs.
They expressed frustration that despite reports of a GH₵200 million allocation to support Buffer Stock operations, no significant purchases have been made, resulting in unsold produce piling up in homes and markets.
The crisis, farmers say, is compounded by the high cost of inputs such as fertilizer, agrochemicals, and labour, which continue to rise despite claims of easing inflation.
Many lamented that they are now at the mercy of middlemen who dictate unfavourable prices, pushing them deeper into financial distress.
Women traders at the Atebubu market were particularly vocal, some breaking down in tears as they recounted how government promises made prior to the 2024 elections have not materialised, leaving them stranded.
The concerns extend beyond maize, as rice, yam, and cashew farmers in the area also reported similar challenges, particularly the absence of ready markets.
Rice producers, in particular, complained of an influx of imported rice, which they say has further collapsed demand for locally produced grains, worsening their plight.
Addressing the farmers, the Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, criticised the government for what he described as its failure to inject funds into the agricultural sector at a critical time.
He argued that while farmers struggle to sell their produce, resources are being directed into non-priority areas, leaving the backbone of the economy neglected.
He assured the farmers that the Minority will continue to serve as their voice, both in Parliament and in the public space, to demand urgent government intervention.
The Caucus also pledged to push for immediate action to revive the Buffer Stock system, stabilise prices, and protect local farmers from the effects of imports and market distortions.
The Atebubu engagement forms part of a broader national tour by the Minority to assess firsthand the challenges facing farmers and advocate policy responses.
Farmers, however, insist that time is running out, urging government to act swiftly to salvage their livelihoods before the situation worsens further.