ACCRA, 18 February 2022 - Rice is an important crop in Ghana, with a steady increase in consumption over recent decades due to population growth, urbanization and changes in consumer habits. However, multiple challenges across the value chain are holding back the full development potential of national rice production. The government recognizes that making the domestic rice value chain more competitive would not only contribute to economic growth and structural transformation, but also solve developmental challenges like poverty and job creation for youth, women, and other vulnerable population groups.

As a joint effort of the governments of Ghana and Japan, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), a new project will strengthen competencies along the value chain in order to make use of modern technologies, realize higher value creation, and comply with market requirements.

The project will build the capacity of value chain actors - mainly farmers, agro-traders, crop processers, and public supporting institutions  - by way of a range activities focusing on quality assurance, increased productivity and business competitiveness, as well as the supply of equipment. The use of best practices and modern management systems will enhance the quality of the harvested rice and the products derived from it.

The project will be implemented by UNIDO, in coordination with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the government of Japan, under the funding scheme of the government of Japan. The formal launch of the project was marked by a ceremony bringing together the Government of Ghana, represented by Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture; Hisanobu Mochizuki, Japan’s Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana; and Fakhruddin Azizi, UNIDO’s Representative in Ghana.

For more information, please contact:

Marco Kamiya, UNIDO

e-mail: M.KAMIYA@unido.org

Jun Yamashita, UNIDO

e-mail: J.YAMASHITA@unido.org