Rice is the second most consumed food commodity in Ghana cuisine. Ghana imports rice worth millions of dollars every year derailing economic growth. Ghana’s rice production is about 960,000mt as against 1.4mmt consumption making it dependent on foreign countries for the rest of the quantity consumed.
To bridge the import gap and make the rice sub-sector very vibrant and competitive, Jospong Group has assured its support to invest in the rice sector.
Speaking at the 7th Ghana National Rice Festival with the theme: Increasing Production through the Development of Valley Bottoms to meet National Demand at Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyapong said it is unacceptable for Ghana to import rice from other countries.
“Why do we have to import rice to Ghana?” Dr. Agyapong quizzes. According to him, after research conducted by his consultant, it has been discovered that every region of Ghana is good for production, hence, there is no need for Ghana to import food commodities from other countries, we must eat what is grown here in Ghana.
He assured that the Group would support the Ghana Rice-Interprofessional Body (GRIB) to develop the sub-sector in their capacity, “we the Jospong Group have come to support and to develop with GRIB to grow the rice sector. We will invest money, technology, and resources and we will also support the out-growers”
Lauding the Ghanaian farmers he said farmers go through a lot of challenges to produce food crops for consumers. Farmers work assiduously under unfavorable weather conditions coupled with traditional working tools and after harvest, they struggle for the market to sell their farm produce, however, Ghanaian farmers need to be acknowledged and supported.
He called on other private companies to contribute their quota to enhance the development of the rice sector to support the government’s intention to reduce or possibly ban rice importation in the first quarter of 2023.