GHANA – Rice consumers in Ghana are opting for imported rice, arguing that local rice prices have hit record highs prompting traders to call for strategies to attract patronage.
According to rice traders, the high prices of the local rice as compared to that of imported rice was a disincentive discouraging people from buying.
Speaking with the Ghana News Agency on reactions to the budget statement restricting importations of some products like rice, traders noted that reducing the prices of the local rice was key to any policy to increase its patronage.
Ghana News Agency (GNA) checks at some wholesale and retail shops confirmed the complaint, reporting that the average price of 25 kg of Ghana rice or local rice ranged from Gh450-Gh550 with 5kg selling at Gh90 or Gh110 cedis while that of the imported rice ranged from Gh300-600 depending on the brand.
However, rice experts say that the local rice is highly nutritious because it is not too polished as compared to the imported rice, which is highly polished to become clean or improve its quality.
This comes after the recent cry from rice farmers, who lamented a lack of post-harvest handling technologies, particularly mechanical driers leading to increased loss of their produce and a threat to food safety.
According to them, the lack of these crucial needs is compelling them to use their feet to dry rice, which is compromising the safety and quality of the grain.
Madam Eva Yirenkyi, a rice dealer said apart from complaints about the quality of Ghana rice, the prices were a major deterrent to the public “People now want to purchase the local rice, but the price as compared with the imported ones makes it a difficult choice for them.”
She said often, people come to ask about the local rice she stocks, but when they compare the prices with the imported ones “they quickly change their minds to opt for the latter.”
According to her, the scenario was making patronage of the local rice very low while the imported ones kept soaring “
She decried that sometimes it takes me a whole month to sell 25kg of Ghana rice while I sell about 50kg of imported rice on average every week.
Other traders have stopped stocking local rice due to delayed movement in stock causing them losses.
Madam Zariatu Adams, a rice retailer noted that the urge to consume Ghana rice to support the local industry was high, but the only barrier was the price “Now complaints on the quality have reduced, but the major concern is the price”.
