Farmers under the Kpong Irrigation Scheme have raised concerns over challenges undermining their operations and threatening the sustainability of rice production.

Rising input costs, labour shortages and intense market competition from imported rice have created a dire situation for these farmers.

According to them, despite their capacity to produce high-quality seeds and cultivate rice up to three times a year, poor market conditions had made it increasingly difficult for them to sustain production.

During a visit by officials from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Kpong Irrigation Scheme last Wednesday, the General Secretary of the Seed Growers Association, Solomon Buenor, expressed frustration over the government’s decision to import large quantities of rice just as their harvests were ready for sale.

The influx of imported rice, he said, had saturated the market, leaving local producers struggling to find buyers.

“At the time of our production, the government floods the market with imported rice, leaving us with no buyers. This discourages us from planting again, Mr Buenor said.

He said another major setback was the lack of financial support from banks.

“Even the Agricultural Development Bank, which is supposed to assist farmers, is not helping us. Everywhere we go, banks refuse to grant us loans. Without financial support, we cannot expand or improve production,” Mr Buenor said.

Additionally, he said labour shortages were also taking a toll on production.

Out of the nine seed growers on the scheme, he said only two had managed to plant this season due to a lack of available workers.

“By the time we need labourers, they have moved to other areas, leaving us stranded,” Mr Buenor explained.

Adding to their woes, he said there was a lack of harvesting equipment, which slowed down the entire process.

JICA’s intervention

Amid those challenges, Mr Buenor said the intervention of the JICA had been a significant relief.

A portion of the rice farm

Before JICA’s support in 2017, he said the quality of rice seeds in the scheme had deteriorated due to adulteration.

Through JICA’s intervention, he said the farmers began receiving foundation seeds from the Crop Research Station in Tamale and later AGRA seeds from the Crop Research Institute in Kumasi.

As a result, Mr Buenor stated that seed production had improved significantly, attracting buyers from beyond the irrigation scheme.

“Initially, we were producing seeds only for the Kpong Irrigation Scheme farmers but demand has grown. Farmers from the Western Region and other parts of the country now purchase our seeds.

“The scheme currently has nine farmers producing seeds that yielded an average of five tonnes per hectare. They harvest twice a year, producing about 180 tonnes of seed annually,” he said. 

Call on govt

The Project Manager of the Kpong Irrigation Project, Samuel Evans Lamptey, said government policies should be adjusted to support local rice farmers.

He argued that if the government prioritised local rice over imported rice, the country could significantly reduce its dependence on foreign rice.

Mr Lamptey urged the government to enforce policies that supported local rice producers, ensured ready markets for their produce and provided financial assistance to sustain production.