Farmers in the West Gonja Municipality of the Savannah Region are reporting significant losses as commodity prices decline and market access remains limited. The situation is further aggravated by a shortage of storage facilities, leaving harvested crops exposed to pests and adverse weather.
Haruna Voggu, a local farmer, explained that the investment made this year has been “locked up” because there is no market for the produce. He added that the cost of fertiliser, seeds, labour and transportation has more than doubled this season, while farm‑gate prices have fallen by over 50 percent.
Farmers have appealed to the government for intervention, urging improvements in storage infrastructure and better market access to protect livelihoods. The lack of silos and proper storage has raised concerns that much of the unsold grain could deteriorate before the next planting season.
Gari processors and traders are also feeling the impact, with some reporting that processed gari bags have remained unsold for weeks. Traders noted a decline in demand from the School Feeding Programme, which had previously supplied gari to caterers.
At the Damongo Saturday Market, traders confirmed falling commodity prices and the resulting effect on earnings. Market women have called on the government to honour its promise to establish the Women’s Development Bank, which they believe would improve access to loans and working capital.
Ewura Rophina Kadija, a student shopkeeper, urged farmers to consider market demand and prevailing prices before choosing crops. She said better access to market information could help farmers avoid overproducing items they cannot sell.
The affected farmers are calling for urgent government action to address storage challenges, improve market access and help them recover losses before the next planting season.
