Outdated machinery, poor pricing undermining Ghana’s rice sector – VEPEAG

The President of the Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana, (VEPEAG), Felix Kamassah, has called for urgent investment in the local rice value chain to address the growing challenge of unsold produce among farmers across the country.

His comments follow increasing complaints from rice farmers about the lack of access to markets, despite claiming they have the capacity to meet Ghana’s annual rice demand.

Farmers say the continued preference for imported rice has left thousands of tonnes of locally produced paddy rice unsold, with some at risk of going bad.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Mr. Kamassah said the issue is a significant concern that must be addressed through better pricing, value addition, and infrastructure support.

“I have a lot of friends who are complaining about the issues of not getting a market for their rice, and this is something we have to look at,” he said.

Using his own experience as an example, he explained that even though consumers appreciate locally produced rice, pricing remains a major obstacle.

“We have a training centre where we provide [local] rice for our students, and they like it. But the issue is the price of the local rice. When we run out and go to the market to buy local rice to mill, the price is higher. The challenge is also how we polish our rice — it’s not right. Adding value to rice is one of the things we have to look at.”

Mr. Kamassah also highlighted the need to modernise rice processing facilities across the country, many of which he said are outdated and inefficient.

“Even with the facilities that we have, some are so old, since the time of Kwame Nkrumah. When you go there, you have to form a queue and return the next day to collect your product. We must build capacity for these machines and replace the old ones,” he said.

He further noted that some factories are poorly located, far from rice-producing areas, making it difficult for farmers to process and sell their produce efficiently.

“Those who set up the factories unfortunately, establish them outside where the products can be found. The processing must be closer to where the raw materials are. If that happens, more people can add value to their rice and release it onto the market when there’s a shortage.”