Maize shortage hits Ghana as flour and feed millers turn to imports

GHANA – The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has raised the alarm over the severe maize shortage currently plaguing the country, leaving millers and processors dependent on imports to satisfy local demand.

Dr. Charles Nyaaba, former Executive Director of PFAG, reported to local media- B&FT that the situation is critical.

“As we speak, there is no maize in the system. What we have produced in the last few seasons has entirely been consumed, and there is no buffer. Consumers and processors now have to rely on imports from the Sahel regions to meet local demands,” Dr. Nyaaba stated.

The PFAG’s concerns come amid discussions about the government’s Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) policy, intended to boost agricultural productivity.

According to Dr. Nyaaba, the policy has failed to achieve its goals concerning maize production.

“The main objective of PFJ was to ensure that we have enough raw materials for industry; specifically with maize, it has not happened,” he added.

The maize shortage has led to soaring prices, with a 50kg bag now costing approximately US$22.50 (GH¢300) in some locations.

This comes after Ghana’s agricultural sector became the center of controversy following the recent approval by the National Biosafety Authority (NBA) to introduce 14 genetically modified organism (GMO) products into the market. 

These include six varieties of soybeans and eight varieties of corn, which sparked criticism from the Peasant Farmers’ Association of Ghana (PFAG).

The approval of GMO seeds follows Ghana’s adoption of genetically modified cowpeas in June 2022, which was aimed at combating the pod borer “Maruca vitrata.” 

In a press release dated April 9, the PFAG expressed vehement opposition to the NBA’s decision, labeling it as detrimental to the Ghanaian agricultural landscape. 

The association highlighted what they perceive as a contradiction in the government’s stance, citing previous statements from the Minister of Agriculture advocating for reliance on local researchers to develop high-yield crops without needing GMOs.

PFAG President Wepia Addo Adugwala questioned the necessity of GMOs for food security, pointing out the success of Ghanaian farmers in meeting local demands without government assistance. 

Presently, the PFAG are at it again, questioning the value of the PFJ 2.0 initiative, especially when the first phase of the policy has not addressed fundamental issues.

The Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association (GAPFA) and other local feed mills are also feeling the pinch. A source from GAPFA, who requested anonymity, revealed ongoing difficulties in sourcing sufficient maize for poultry feed production.

Despite these challenges, the government reported spending nearly US$213 million (GH¢2.9 billion) on the first phase of the PFJ policy from 2017 to 2022. This expenditure primarily covered the provision of improved seeds and fertilizers to enhance agricultural productivity.

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