Rice has quietly become one of Ghana’s most important staple foods. From our homes and chop bars to ceremonies and quick weekday meals, rice is now firmly embedded in everyday life.

Yet, behind this growing appetite lies a paradox that continues to weaken the economy and frustrate Ghanaian farmers.

Today, Ghana spends an estimated US$350 million annually on rice imports. The country consumes nearly two million metric tonnes of rice each year, but close to 70 per cent of this is imported.

This means that, despite strong domestic demand, much of the value of what we eat is transferred abroad — including jobs, income and economic opportunities.

The challenge is not that Ghana cannot grow rice. Indeed, the country has suitable ecologies across the northern regions, the middle belt and the southern lowlands.

The deeper issue lies in scale, structure and systems. Less than three per cent of Ghana’s agricultural land is currently under rice cultivation, compared with countries such as Thailand, where 46.5 per cent of agricultural land is devoted to rice, and Vietnam, with 58.8 per cent under intensive rice production (IFS Ghana).

These countries did not become rice powerhouses by accident; they made deliberate investments in land development, farmer support, processing capacity and market protection.

Ironically, Ghanaian rice farmers are not suffering solely from low production, but increasingly from limited market access.

Local supply is beginning to outstrip demand, creating an artificial glut. Warehouses are full, mills are operating below capacity, and farmers are holding unsold paddy. At the same time, imported rice continues to dominate retail shelves due to branding advantages, price perceptions and policy gaps.

For the Ghanaian rice farmer, the strain is compounded. Production costs remain high, driven by expensive inputs, mechanisation services and financing.

Yet prices are falling, partly as a result of the recent appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the dollar, which makes imported rice relatively cheaper. The outcome is a farmer squeezed from all sides — high costs, low prices and limited protection.

So, where do we go from here?

First, regulated rice imports are critical — not a blanket ban, but smart controls that align imports with seasonal local production. Second, government-backed buy-back schemes, through strengthened buffer stock systems, must be enhanced to absorb excess local rice and stabilise prices.

Third, Ghana urgently needs a guaranteed floor price per kilogramme of locally produced rice to protect farmers from market shocks and unfair competition. Fourth, input costs must be reduced — from seeds and fertiliser to mechanisation services — through targeted subsidies, bulk procurement and increased private sector participation.

Financial institutions must also develop farmer-friendly products that reflect the realities of rice production cycles.

However, policy interventions alone will not suffice.

This is also a matter of national mindset.

This is a clarion call to all Ghanaians — consumers, retailers, institutions, hotels and caterers — to consciously choose Ghana rice.

Every bag of locally produced rice purchased sustains a farmer, supports rural employment, reduces pressure on foreign exchange reserves and strengthens national food security.

Ghanaian rice has improved significantly in quality, taste and packaging. What it needs now is confidence and loyalty.

Ghana’s rice story can be rewritten, but only if we all play our part.

Writer: Fred Kukubor is the Managing Partner of Farmer Globale and Executive Member of Commercial Rice Growers Alliance Ghana (CRAG)