Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for increased investment in the rice sector, describing it as a strategic economic asset that can help reduce Africa’s dependence on food imports and strengthen food security across the continent.
Speaking at the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra on Tuesday, June 2, Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang stressed that scaling up rice production and commercialising the industry are essential to meeting the region’s growing demand.
According to her, Africa must view rice production as a strategic economic asset capable of reducing the region’s reliance on imports, creating jobs, and enhancing food security.
“Despite our economic potential, Africa still spends more than $50 billion dollars or more annually on food imports with rice accounting for a significant share of that import bill. Rice as become one of the staple foods across West Africa with demand rising rapidly. West Africa alone import tons of rice annually.
“The challenge before us is not just about growing more rice but also about mobilizing the scale of capital required to transform agriculture from subsistent sector to commercial production from a fragmented production to integrate value chain. As a result, African must see rice as a strategic economic assest,”she highlighted.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh /Pamela Quayson
