The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto has indicated that the Central Region has the potential of increasing Ghana’s rice production capacity.
According to the Minister, the region has the capacity and prospects to produce rice to meet local demand and for export.
Dr. Akoto revealed that he was enthused about the increase of rice production in the region following a report presented to him by the Regional Director of Agriculture, highlighting the success story of rice production, engaging in field visits to selected rice farms and interacting with farmers and value chain actors.
He lauded the Central Region for their efforts in producing rice to feed the country, boosting the economy and livelihoods of farmers.
According to him, the need to expand rice milling centres in the various regions where rice is cultivated should become a priority to boost the agriculture sector.
The minister appealed to financial institutions to support millers with funds to purchase machinery to facilitate the production of rice.
Dr Akoto further revealed that before the government assumed office in 2017, the production of paddy rice was only 6500 MT, however in 2021, production increased to 1.2 million MT as a result of the implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.
The Minister said these while speaking at a staff durbar of ministers, Agric directors, and stakeholders at the Central Regional Coordinating Council on Thursday, November 3, 2022.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto continued his field visits to a commercial vegetable farm, Jonathan Agro Farms at Winneba in the Efutu Municipality where different kinds of vegetables are grown on a field and through greenhouse technology.
Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan who graced the occasion stated that the increase in rice production in the region is a result of the improved rice seeds produced at Assin Akropong and the Okyereko Water Users Association under the Rice Value Chain Improvement Project (RVCIP).
She explained that the RVCIP project funded by the Korea International Cooperation (KIOKA) is targeted at changing the fortunes of smallholder farmers, boosting the economic growth of the region and reducing Ghana’s rice imports.
Madam Justina added that rainfall distribution and intensity this year have been excellent thus the increase in production while the tremendous help of extension officers from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to the farmers by providing them with the necessary assistance to improve production has also played a key role.
The Regional Minister further admitted and commended South Korea’s project saying it has increased rice production in the 5 districts of cultivation.
She continued and pledged to work hard to extend the project to other 22 districts of the region aimed at supporting the government’s agenda of transforming agriculture in Ghana.
Madam Assan revealed that Central Region has benefitted from the PFJ programme since its inception
“We’ve had a lot of interventions when the Minister started his Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development and other interventions rolled out. Farmers in the region have received a lot of support from the Minister and the government,” the minister noted.
Some farmers of whom the majority are University graduates indicated that agriculture is a profitable business and urged the youth to develop an interest and venture into commercial agriculture to enhance food security and improve their livelihood.
