Public-private partnership needed to tackle rice glut in Navrongo – Mercy Abada
In recent months, many rice farmers in Navrongo and surrounding communities have struggled to find markets for their produce, resulting in huge post-harvest losses and highlighting persistent challenges within Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team for the Navrongo Central Constituency, Mercy Abada, has called for a public-private partnership (PPP) intervention to address the recurring rice glut in Navrongo and other parts of the Upper East Region.
In recent months, many rice farmers in Navrongo and surrounding communities have struggled to find markets for their produce, resulting in huge post-harvest losses and highlighting persistent challenges within Ghana’s agricultural value chain.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, November 5, Abada expressed deep concern about the plight of local farmers and urged a collaborative approach to finding lasting solutions.
“In the long term, we should be looking at cushioning farmers by giving them low-interest loans and creating avenues for ready markets at fair prices. We need a public-private partnership model in places like Navrongo and Vea to help tackle the issue of glut, not only in rice but in other farm produce as well,” she said.
Abada noted that the high cost of production remains a major barrier for farmers, often resulting in losses despite the hard work invested in cultivation. She therefore called for swift interventions to help reduce production costs and enhance farmers’ profitability.
She further emphasized the need to make farming more attractive to the youth, describing agriculture as a sector with enormous potential to curb unemployment if properly supported.
“We should make farming attractive to young people. We often complain about the lack of jobs, but farming is one of the best professions in the world. In advanced countries, many of the wealthy people are farmers because there are systems that protect them. They have pricing ceilings and floors to stabilize incomes,” she explained.
Abada also commended the National Food Buffer Stock Company for introducing farm-gate pricing for maize and rice, which she said has helped stabilize prices and bring relief to some farmers.
Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | David Adapuna
