In an attempt to avert a food shortage due to the ongoing dry spell in the northern regions of the country, the government has imposed an immediate ban on the export of grains.
This latest announcement was made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, during a press briefing in Accra on Monday, August 27, 2024.
He explained that the ban aims to ensure the availability of crops for the domestic market amid the challenging weather conditions.
To mitigate the impact on farmers, Mr. Acheampong urged those with grain stocks to reach out to district directors, aggregators, and the crops directorate across the country if they are interested in selling.
This measure is intended to support farmers and prevent them from suffering losses due to the export ban.
“With immediate effect, the government is placing a ban on the export of grains, including maize, rice, and soya beans, until the situation normalizes. This measure is essential to ensure the availability of these critical crops on the domestic market”.
“Any farmer with stock and interested in selling should contact our district directors across the country, our district aggregators, or the directorate of crops, Ministry of Agriculture. This is to ensure that farmers do not suffer adversely as a result of this ban,” he noted.
Reports suggest a severe drought in the northern parts of the country affecting food production.
This situation has raised widespread concerns about food security and the livelihood of thousands of farmers as the weather is affecting crop growth and leaving farmers with little hope for a successful harvest.