Budget 2026: Government Allocates GH¢200 Million to Boost Food Buffer Stock, Mandates Schools to Buy Ghanaian Rice, Maize & Chicken

 

Budget 2026: Government Allocates GH¢200 Million to Boost Food Buffer Stock, Mandates Schools to Buy Ghanaian Rice, Maize & Chicken

Budget 2026 - Ghana Budget 2026 - Ghana food buffer stock - The government has announced an additional GH¢200 million allocation to expand the National Food Buffer Stock Company’s (NAFCO) food purchase and storage programme, which started earlier this year with an initial GH¢100 million.

Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, said the extra funding will enable NAFCO to buy more surplus food from Ghanaian farmers and supply it to public institutions, including schools, hospitals, and prisons.

“Government has provided an additional GH¢200 million in the 2026 Budget to purchase and store food produced by Ghanaian farmers, ensuring that our public institutions consume what we grow,” Dr Forson told Parliament.

He explained that the initiative is part of a broader strategy to stabilise food prices, reduce post-harvest losses, and strengthen local agricultural value chains.

The National Food Buffer Stock Company, which manages the country’s food reserves, began buying excess grains and poultry in 2025 after receiving GH¢100 million from government to cushion farmers against post-harvest gluts and price fluctuations.

The new allocation doubles the scale of that programme for 2026.

Dr Forson said public institutions will be required to prioritise Ghana-grown rice, maize, and chicken in their procurement processes from next year, supporting the Free Senior High School feeding programme and the School Feeding Scheme.

He added that the policy will improve farmer incomes, create jobs in storage and logistics, and reduce the country’s reliance on imported staples.

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