The National Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has asked suppliers of food items to Senior High Schools to provide local rice from next academic year or face sanctions.
It has directed that the failure of licensed suppliers’ to do so would attract sanctions, which include non-payment for services rendered and revocation of licenses.
Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO Hanan Abdul-Wahab, gave the caution at a news conference in Accra on the status of patronage and consumption of local rice as well as paddy rice purchases.
He said the directive forms part of efforts to ensure that there is 100 percent supply of local rice to all schools.
Currently, the National Buffer Stock Company is in negotiations with a mobile van company to ensure produced rice reach the final consumer.
The Chairman of the Rice Marketing Technical Committee of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Emmanuel Asante Krobea said the Ministry hopes to achieve self-sufficiency in rice by 2022.
He said the Committee is putting in measures to ensure that importers of rice purchase the locally-produced ones and distribute them through their existing channels.
