The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has proposed the establishment of a Rice Development Board to coordinate and strengthen government interventions aimed at boosting rice production in Ghana.
At a presentation of its latest study titled “Increasing Importation of Rice in Ghana: Can the Country Transform Its Fortunes in the Rice Sector?” held at the IFS office in Accra, Senior Research Fellow and Acting Executive Director of the Institute, Dr. Said Boakye, said the board should serve as the central body for policy implementation and investment in the rice value chain.
According to him, the board should oversee the provision of certified seeds, fertiliser, irrigation facilities, and mechanisation support to farmers, while drawing lessons from the experiences of major rice-producing countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.
“Ghana has all it takes for a successful rice sector, abundant labour and vast arable land. With improved yields and proper management, the country can produce up to 35.4 million metric tons of paddy rice annually,” Dr. Boakye stated.
He emphasised that if Ghana had produced just 7.4 million metric tons of milled rice in 2022, it could have exported over 6 million metric tons, matching Vietnam’s export volume that year.
The study further revealed that despite numerous policy initiatives, Ghana’s rice importation continues to increase, undermining food security and worsening the balance of payments.
Responding to the presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, George Abradu-Otoo, expressed strong support for the proposed Rice Development Board.
He, however, lamented the low level of funding for local rice purchasing and storage, disclosing that his outfit received only GHC100 million out of a GHC700 million request to buy excess local rice from farmers.
He called for greater investment and coordination among key agricultural institutions to ensure that local rice farmers are adequately supported and protected from the effects of import competition.
The study by IFS forms part of its ongoing policy research on food security and fiscal sustainability in Ghana.
Source: asaaseradio.com
