Research scientists say Ghana can make significant efforts towards food sufficiency if urgent steps are taken to reduce post-harvest losses and wastage across the agricultural value chain.
They warn that the current level of food waste increases the national food price crisis, despite increased production at the farmgate.
Speaking on Luv FM’s morning show, Prof. Maxwell Darko Asante, Rice Breeder and Director of the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, said the country has the capacity to drastically cut food imports and save billions of cedis if the right policies are pursued.
“If the government makes proper use of the resources we have, especially in growing rice, within the next ten years the country can be rice sufficient and save over one billion cedis,” Prof. Asante said.
He added that while food has become relatively cheaper at the farmgate due to surplus supply, consumers in urban areas are not fully benefiting.
He blamed poor road networks, high fuel prices, and the role of middlemen in the food chain for the price differences.
“The cost of transport and bad roads is what adds to the price in the market. Until that is fixed, the full benefit of cheaper food at the farm level will not reach ordinary Ghanaians,” he noted.
Prof. Asante also called for stronger buffer stock systems and stricter regulations for middlemen and queen mothers to ensure fair pricing and food stability across the country.
A Food Scientist at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute, Ms. Faustina Okyere, stressed the importance of post-harvest practices in addressing the challenge.
“Proper post-harvest management gives perishable crops extra shelf life. That alone can reduce the crisis concerning pricing and help farmers get better value for their produce,” she said.
She revealed that the Institute has developed two new tomato varieties that can last much longer than those currently on the market, adding that this innovation will help stabilize tomato prices year-round.
Ms. Okyere also urged households to adopt better storage practices to save money and reduce losses. “With a refrigerator temperature of just 4 degrees, some tomato varieties can last up to a month. This kind of simple knowledge can make a big difference for families,” she advised.
Both experts further encouraged the government to promote the consumption of local rice in schools and institutions, describing it as a tested strategy that could strengthen the market for local farmers. They also called on households to cultivate backyard farms to boost self-reliance.
They maintain that with the government’s commitment, farmer education, and consumer support, Ghana can reduce its dependence on imports and achieve long-term food sufficiency.
Source: Jude Mawufemo Fiagbe