MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, KOREA INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (KOICA) LUNCHES RICE VALUE CHAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN CENTRAL REGION .

MINISTRY OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, KOREA INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AGENCY (KOICA) LUNCHES RICE VALUE CHAIN IMPROVEMENT PROJECT IN CENTRAL REGION .

A project Designed to improve Rice production and productivity to support the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led Government initiatives of attaining self-sufficient in rice production has duly lunched in Assin Fosu Municipality in the central Region today with a grant project of USD 8 million from the Government of Korea.

The Central Regional Minister, Hon Justina Marigold Assan in her welcome Address stated that, Agricultural Remains the major Catalyst for an Economic Transformation of Country Ghana into which investment by both public and private sectors are to pay attention to.

Hon Justina Marigold Assan stated that, One of the Area we have to consider seriously is the Rice Production.

" The Central Region has done its bit of trying to produce more rice to reduce this deficit over the years, President Akufo-Addo's Planting for food and Jobs has helped improve rice production in my Region" She stated.

A total Number of 562.4 Metric Tons of seed rice was distributed to 16,068 Farmers and has increased our estimated Production from 2,846 Metric Tons in 2014 to 19,146 Metric Tons in 2020, She added.

Honorable Justina Marigold Assan, The Central Regional Minister therefore Cautioned Ghanaians to Direct their attention and eating Habits to Local food. "Homemade food and Agricultural products are equally of good quality, available, accessible, affordable and Hygienically packaged for Consumption which everybody must get involved to make sure the we develop long lasting taste for made in Ghana food and Agricultural Products to sustain the gain made in the Country's Economic Development" She said.

On His part, The Country Director for Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) Mr. Mooheon Kong stated that, the project Lunch was an important milestone, "but we must not remind ourselves that the great success of the project will depend on all Stakeholders of this project."

He Applaud the Government of Ghana, their Partner, Ministry of food and Agricultural, UNOPS who are managing the procurement and hardware component of the Project as well as PMC, DICA, who have overall mandate to coordinate and Manage the project Implementation.

*Speaking to Oman fm news Reporter Nana Yaw Entsie Prof Ike* Mr. Mooheon Kong said he hope that the project will yield the desired outcome of improving rice production and Value and thereby enhance the livelihood and living Conditions of the farmers.

Director for crops services at Ministry of food and Agricultural (MOFA) Mr. Seth Osei Akoto Said

Rice has become an important strategic crop in the economy of Ghana and its consumption keeps increasing as a result of population growth, urbanization and change in consumer habits.

In 2016, paddy rice production was estimated at 688,000 MT and has increased to around 925,000 MT by 2019.

There is however a huge gap between what is consumed and what is produced locally, and this is filled by imports using hundreds of million dollars of scarce foreign exchange. He stated.

Speaking at the Lunch and Grounds Breaking program to improve rice Value chain in Assin Fosu in the central Region today Mr. Seth

Osei Akoto Stated that, Ministry of Food and Agriculture is facilitating the production and distribution of certified rice seeds and fertilizers to increase farmers’ accessibility and affordability to increase their productivity and yields.

In 2017, under the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) Campaign, a total of 1,698 MT of certified rice seed with complimentary fertilizers were distributed to rice farmers across the country.

This increased to about 6,544 MT in 2019, and to about 10,950 MT of certified rice seed with complimentary fertilizers in 2020. This alone is expected to result in the production of over 1,000,000 MT of paddy rice. The target for 2021 is about 12,000 MT and I am confident that over 1,000,000 MT of paddy rice will be produced.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is however targeting to be rice self-sufficient by 2023/24 and therefore efforts are being put in place to achieve this target. He added.