Ghana to produce its own rice latest by 2023 - Agric minister hints
- Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Ghana's Agric minister, has disclosed plans to ensure the nation is self-sufficient with regard to the production of rice
- According to him, some equipment have been purchased to ensure that the plan becomes a success
- Dr. Akoto went on to say that until 2017, Ghana's milling capacity was below 150,000 metric tonnes and this led to massive importation of rice
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The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has hinted at the possibility of making Ghana self-proficient in rice production from 2023.
According to him, the government has invested a number of farming implements such as harvesters to achieve the objective.
He added that the government has also purchased four different types of solar-powered milling machines from China to improve the production chain of rice.
READ ALSO: There is enough food in Ghana to feed everyone - Agric minister declares
Per a report by graphic.com.gh, he revealed this during an interaction with farmer groups and value chain operators in the agricultural sector in the Bono, Bono East and the Ashanti regions.
The sector minister also visited some farms to obtain primary information about the challenges the farmers face as the farming season begins.
YEN.com.gh understands that he observed the farmers did not have the needed equipment to help expand their farms, harvest timeously, mill the paddy rice, store their crops and find a market for their produce.
Dr. Akoto noted that currently, the milling capacity of rice in the country was 400,000 metric tonnes, even though the total demand stood at 1.2 million metric tonnes per year.
He went on to say that until 2017, the country’s milling capacity was below 150,000 metric tonnes, which occasioned the huge level of rice importation into the country, which he described as “unnecessary and unwarranted”.
In another report, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) has initiated plans to halt the export of soya beans.
The move is in line with attempts to ensure that there are enough soya beans to feed for poultry birds in Ghana.
YEN.com.gh understands that MoFA is currently seeking legal backing to halt the exportation of the crop.
READ ALSO: Food is now cheaper in Ghana - Agric minister declares
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Source: YEN.com.gh
