The Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs , has paid a working visit to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in Kumasi as part of its ongoing engagement with key institutions in the agriculture and food sector.

The visit was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of NAFCO’s operations, assessing challenges confronting the company and identifying recommendations to strengthen the country’s food security system.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, Osmond Amoah, disclosed that portions of the company’s land have been encroached upon, creating challenges for the effective management and expansion of the national food reserve.

He noted that in many countries, national food reserve facilities are treated as national security zones because of their strategic importance to food security.

According to Mr. Amoah, food systems are critical to the future, while hunger remains one of the major threats to security globally. He therefore appealed to Parliament to consider designating all national food reserve facilities as national security zones.

He also called for the establishment of a revolving fund that could be used on a perennial basis to finance the purchase of food from farmers, instead of relying on parliamentary appropriations whenever funds are needed.

Mr. Amoah further indicated that the government requires about GH¢1.2 million to address the current food glut in the country. He said NAFCO will put a data system that registers smallholder farmers and stressed the need to apply science and technology to improve food production and management.

He added that NAFCO continues to face constraints relating to inadequate storage space and funding.

The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, said the committee was impressed with the work and progress made by NAFCO in advancing the country’s national food buffer stock programme.

He noted that funds allocated to the company from the public purse were being put to good use.

Hon. Jasaw explained that managing a national food buffer stock is a complex process that requires attention at various stages, from the supply of food commodities through stock management to the eventual release of the commodities.

He assured NAFCO that the committee would work with relevant stakeholders to address the company’s security concerns and explore measures to establish secure reserve points.

The Wa East Member of Parliament also called on the government to consider the establishment of a National Agriculture Fund to support the sector.