Upcoming Rice Varieties is an opportunity for Ghana to achieve rice self-sufficiency-Deputy Director

The Deputy Director of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI) has indicated that Ghana can achieve self-sufficiency in rice production within a decade.

According to him, the current and upcoming varieties provide a great opportunity for Ghana to achieve rice self-sufficiency.

In a presentation at a three-day high-level consultative meeting held in Accra, he said, “If the necessary investments are made into National Rice Development Strategy, (which takes into consideration the whole value chain), rice self-sufficiency can be achieved within a decade.”

Speaking on the topic “Achieving rice self-sufficiency in Ghana:  A case for investment into the rice value chain in Ghana”, Dr. Asante said the current demand for milled rice in Ghana was 1,330,000 metric tonnes (MT); adding that local production was 622,000 MT of milled rice (i.e. 987,000 MT of paddy cultivated over an area of 311,000 ha) making Ghana 47 percent self-sufficient.

He further said, “Consequently, we spend between $200 to $500 million on rice imports per annum. The current average yield is 3.2 MT/ha.”

He spoke about the constraints hindering rice production in the country. He said, “Poor seed distribution system, poor land development, poor water management, drought, poor soil fertility, poor fertilizer management, and pests and diseases,” hinders the production capacity.

He also added that poor grain quality, very low mechanization, illegal mining activities (galamsey)/real estate development, low turnout of superior varieties, inadequate modern rice mills and poor branding.