Ghana launches $18.8m rice project to aid 20,000 northern farmers
The African Development Bank grant funds seven districts across four northern regions, targeting more than 20,000 smallholder rice farmers.
Ghana's Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Eric Opoku, launched a $18.8 million rice programme on Monday. The Regional West African Resilient Rice Value Chain Project, known as REWARD, aims to raise rice output and reduce the country's dependence on imported rice.
The project is supported by a grant from the African Development Bank. It is expected to benefit more than 20,000 smallholder farmers across seven districts in four northern regions, including Mamprugu-Moagduri in the North East Region and Tamale Metropolitan, Mion and Savelugu in the Northern Region.
The programme also covers Nandom and Wa Municipalities in the Upper West Region and West Gonja Municipal in the Savannah Region. It targets weak domestic supply, low uptake of improved technologies, weak production systems and fragmented farming activities.
Why it mattersMore than 20,000 smallholder rice farmers in seven northern Ghana districts are expected to receive support aimed at lifting their production.