The country’s northern areas are being severely impacted by a prolonged dry spell, prompting the government to place an immediate restriction on the export of essential crops, such as rice, maize, and soy. The action is intended to prevent crop failures brought on by drought from possibly leading to a food shortfall. On Monday, August 27, in Accra, Bryan Acheampong, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, made the announcement.
About 62% of Ghana’s grain production is attributed to the affected regions, which are primarily in the north. The lack of rain in the previous two months has sparked worries about a large shortage of grain. “With immediate effect, the government is placing a ban on the export of grains including maize, rice, and soya bean until the situation normalizes. This measure is essential to ensure the availability of these critical crops on the domestic market.”
The government intends to gather $500 million, including roughly $155 million from the World Bank and other development partners, to lessen the effects of the grain scarcity. According to Mohammed Amin Adam, Minister of Finance, 1,000 cedis per hectare would be paid as compensation to the impacted farmers using these monies.
In elucidating the reasoning behind the prohibition, Acheampong underscored the necessity of guaranteeing the accessibility of vital crops for the internal market despite the difficult meteorological circumstances. In order to avoid losing money as a result of the export prohibition, he asked farmers who have grain reserves to get in touch with district directors, aggregators, and the Crops Directorate if they are interested in selling their produce.
The government anticipates that the export prohibition, along with targeted grain imports and financial assistance for farmers, will stabilise the situation and keep Ghana from experiencing a catastrophic food crisis.
SOURCE: https://dew360.net
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