The Japan International Cooperation Agency(JICA) is urging Government to adopt a coherent policy to increase rice yields in Ghana.
Ghana just like other African countries continue to import large volumes of rice.
According to Statistics from Ministry of Food and Agriculture, averagely, 45 kg of rice is consumed per capital annually with a self sufficiency of 47.5 as of 2023.
To bridge this gap, the Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Momoko Suzuki wants government to implement actionable policies to help increase the production of rice in Ghana.
Speaking during the monitoring of the Ghana Rice Production Improvement Project(GRIP), Momoko Suzuki said
Ghana faces a significant gap between rice consumption and production, relying heavily on imports to meet its food security needs.
She added that through GRIP, JICA is supporting the launching and the implementation National Rice Development Strategy 2 to increase domestic rice production and ensure a stable supply, addressing urgent challenges in food security and foreign exchange retention for the Ghanaian government.
The project she said will also contribute to the “Feed Ghana Programme” to be launched by the current government.
As of December 2018, 35 MMDAs developed rice extension plans, 57 district agricultural officers, 234 agricultural extension agents and 4,955 farmers were trained through GRIP.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/Obed King Gaglo
