The Minority in Parliament has marked this year’s Farmers’ Day with a scathing assessment of the government’s handling of the agricultural sector.

The NPP MPs are accusing it of presiding over a GH¢5 billion grain disaster and leaving farmers and fishers behind at a time they need the state most.

The caucus said the day calls for reflection, not celebration, because the people who feed the nation are facing some of the hardest moments in Ghana’s recent agricultural history.

In a statement signed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the caucus paid tribute to “the gallant farmers, fisherfolk, processors, and agricultural workers whose sweat and resilience continue to feed our nation — even as they face some of the gravest challenges in Ghana’s modern agricultural history.”

They said the day must honour their courage but must also confront the frustration, neglect, and broken promises that define the sector.

The Minority said farmers have shown remarkable courage in a year when the country witnessed a catastrophic collapse in the grain market.

They said “over 1 million metric tonnes of paddy rice valued at GH¢5 billion reportedly remain unsold, abandoned in warehouses and barns from Upper East to North East and the Northern Region.”

According to them, this crisis grew worse because “Government failed to honour its September 2025 promise that the National Food Buffer Stock Company would purchase all locally produced rice and maize.”

They said farmers have been left stranded and national food security has been weakened.

The statement also acknowledged the struggles of fishing communities. It praised “the canoe owners, the crew members, the fishmongers, and processors,” and highlighted the difficulties they face with dwindling stocks, illegal fishing, and logistical failures.

The Minority said their resilience “despite painful betrayals — demonstrates the indomitable Ghanaian spirit.”

They described a deepening crisis along the coast and expressed sympathy for areas “like Keta in the Volta Region, where fishing activities… have reportedly been crippled by the chronic non-supply of premix fuel.”

They said this failure shows a breakdown in basic state responsibility and has left families helpless.

The Minority pointed to a growing sense of despair, noting that “key professional farmer associations have endorsed a symbolic boycott of national celebrations over the Government’s failure to purchase their produce.”

They said the protest in Tamale, where farmers marched with placards asking “Government promised to buy every grain. Where are you?” reflects the mood across the country.

The caucus also warned that cheap, expired, and smuggled imports are wrecking local markets.

They said “smuggled rice — often repackaged by politically connected importers — continues to flood the market,” making it impossible for local farmers to compete.

They added that illicit fishing practices and unregulated imports are also collapsing incomes for local fishers. They called it “a national failure.”

The statement described a cocoa sector in distress. It said farmers are battling price volatility and land loss as illegal mining spreads.

It cited COCOBOD’s report that “30,000 hectares of cocoa farms have… been lost to illegal mining.” Communities face poisoned water and falling yields, and some farmers have abandoned cocoa entirely.

The Minority also drew attention to the threat to national water security. They warned that pollution from illegal mining has pushed the Ayensu River’s turbidity to “over 30,000 NTU… far above the maximum 2,500 NTU threshold required for treatment.” They said the destruction of rivers hurts aquatic life, irrigation, and households.

They added that rising production costs remain a burden. They said farmers still struggle with poor roads, storage delays, and financial constraints, while fishers face the high cost of nets and engines. Meanwhile, Ghana continues to import “US$3.5–4.5 billion worth of food annually.”

The Minority urged a major shift toward modern technology. They called for investment in “Artificial Intelligence diagnostics,” drones, precision agriculture, smart irrigation, and digital monitoring systems. They said this is how Ghana can become competitive and create jobs.

They listed urgent demands to rescue the sector. They called for the immediate purchase of unsold grain, restoration of premix fuel supply, enforcement against smuggled imports, action against illegal mining and fishing, expansion of the Feed Ghana Programme, and investment in irrigation, storage, cold chains, road networks, landing sites, and agro-processing.

The caucus ended its statement by saluting the country’s farmers and fishers. It said: “We honour you. We celebrate you. We see your struggles. We stand with you. Your courage feeds the nation.”

It pledged to continue fighting for proper investment, better protection, and a modernised agricultural and fisheries sector built on technology and innovation.

It wished all farmers a happy Farmers’ Day and said they deserve far more than promises.