Ghana’s grain imports to hit 1.2MT in 2024/2025 amid drought crisis

GHANA – Ghana is set to see a sharp increase in grain imports, with maize imports forecasted to rise to 300,000 tonnes in the 2024/2025 season, nearly eleven times higher than the 28,000 tonnes imported in the previous season.

Coupled with wheat imports expected to total 865,000 tonnes, Ghana’s total grain imports are anticipated to hit 1.2 million tonnes.

This figure, reported by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), reflects the impact of a severe drought and evolving consumption patterns.

According to the USDA, the drought that gripped Ghana between July and August 2024 caused a 19% reduction in harvested maize areas, down to 1.05 million hectares. Maize production is expected to decline by 28%, resulting in an output of just 2.6 million tonnes for the 2024/2025 season.

The northern regions, responsible for 62% of Ghana’s cereal production, were particularly hard-hit by the drought. This has created a significant gap in the domestic supply, forcing the government to rely on imports to meet demand.

Maize remains a staple crop in Ghana, with 85% of production allocated to human consumption and the rest used for livestock feed.

To avert a potential food crisis, the Ghanaian government has introduced tax incentives to encourage private sector imports, primarily sourced from Argentina, South Africa, Brazil, the United States, Thailand, India, and Côte d’Ivoire.

Rising wheat dependence

While maize dominates Ghana’s grain consumption, wheat is also critical to the country’s food supply. The USDA estimates that Ghana will consume 865,000 tonnes of wheat in 2024/2025, up 10,000 tonnes from the previous year.

With no local wheat production due to unfavorable climatic conditions, Ghana relies entirely on imports, primarily from Canada, Turkey, France, Poland, and Lithuania.

Wheat consumption has doubled since the early 2000s, driven by urbanization and changing dietary preferences.

Nearly 60% of Ghanaians now live in urban areas, where wheat-based products like bread are staple foods. Bread production alone accounts for 70% of wheat flour usage, with Ghana’s baking industry favoring durum wheat for its soft and golden sweet bread, a local specialty.

The combined surge in maize and wheat imports poses economic challenges for Ghana, including increased dependence on international markets and pressure on the balance of payments.

The USDA notes that Ghana’s maize import reliance, previously just 11%, is set to rise sharply, while wheat remains the most import-dependent cereal at 100%.

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