Maize farmers in the Sissala Area of Ghana’s Upper West Region are facing mounting uncertainty as the price of maize crashes just as the harvest season begins to slow. The sharp decline in prices threatens the livelihoods of smallholder farmers who rely on maize sales to support their families and prepare for the next planting season.
According to local reports, maize prices have fallen from approximately GH¢550 per 100 kg bag to as low as GH¢400, leaving many farmers struggling to sell their produce at a sustainable rate. Dealers in the region attribute the price drop to reduced demand, market glut, and rising input costs, which have made maize production less profitable. Some traders noted that prices had already fallen from GH¢370 in December 2023 to GH¢300 per bag earlier this year, highlighting a continuing downward trend.
The crash comes at a critical time, with many farmers nearing the end of the harvest season and facing the prospect of storing unsold maize. Without immediate buyers, some are unable to repay debts incurred from fertiliser, seed, and tractor hire, or to reinvest in the upcoming planting cycle.
In response, the traditional authorities in the Sissala Area have stepped in to protect farmers, setting a minimum price of GH¢500 per 100 kg bag effective 8 July 2025 and urging farmers not to sell below this level. The chiefs emphasized the need to stabilise the market and prevent further exploitation of smallholder farmers.
Local farmers are calling on the government and private sector to provide market support, mechanisation assistance, and price stabilisation measures. They warn that without such intervention, they may reduce maize production or switch to other crops, potentially affecting Ghana’s overall maize supply.
Agricultural experts caution that the price decline could have broader implications beyond the Sissala Area. As one of Ghana’s key maize-producing regions, a sustained drop in prices may disrupt local food supply chains, impact food security, and weaken rural economies that depend heavily on maize farming.
The harvest slowdown, combined with low prices, underscores the vulnerability of farmers to market fluctuations and the urgent need for interventions that balance supply, demand, and fair pricing. Authorities and market stakeholders are now under pressure to implement measures that can protect farmers’ incomes while ensuring the stability of maize supplies for both local consumption and national food security.
Source: Thepressradio.com
