Asutsuare: Rice farmers in Asutsuare, Kadjanya, and Akuse in the Shai Osudoku District of the Eastern Region are experiencing significant financial hardship as substantial quantities of harvested rice remain unsold, leading to considerable post-harvest losses. The situation is particularly severe at the Asutsuare rice irrigation scheme, a critical rice-producing hub covering over 4,000 hectares and supporting both smallholder and commercial farmers.
According to Ghana Web, farmers report that warehouses are filled to capacity, forcing many to leave excess produce exposed to the elements, where it risks spoilage. Despite their investments in mechanisation and irrigation, the farmers argue that the absence of a reliable market continues to thwart their efforts. The crisis has also had a human toll, with reports indicating that a farmer named Zola allegedly died by suicide after struggling to repay a bank loan linked to his farming activities. However, authorities have not publicly confirmed details surrounding the incident.
Philip Akpoka Anumah, President of the Osudoku Rice Farmers Association, highlighted that low pricing remains a significant challenge. He pointed out that the GHS350 per bag offered by buffer stock authorities falls below production costs, exacerbating farmers' losses. Farmers further attribute their struggles to the ongoing influx of imported rice, which they claim is reducing demand for locally produced rice and affecting prices.
There is also a sense of disappointment among the farmers over unfulfilled promises by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, and the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson. These officials reportedly assured interventions, including buffer stock purchases, during a recent visit to the area. Concerns have additionally been raised over delayed rehabilitation works on sections of the irrigation scheme, leaving over a thousand farmers inactive for more than a year.
The farmers are now urgently calling for government intervention, which includes improved market access, fair pricing, and the completion of infrastructure projects. They warn that continued inaction could severely impact local rice production and rural livelihoods.