Ghana is stepping up efforts to reduce its dependence on imported rice as the government prepares to roll out an US$18.8 million Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains Development (REWARD) Project aimed at expanding domestic production and strengthening the rice industry. Editorial Standards
The initiative, supported by an US$18.8 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB), forms part of government’s broader agricultural transformation agenda and is expected to play a key role in its target of achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2028.
The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, announced the target at a press briefing in Accra, explaining that Ghana currently produces enough rice to meet only about 56 percent of national demand. The remaining 44 percent is supplied through imports, resulting in significant foreign exchange outflows.
According to the minister, Ghana’s annual rice import bill can reach approximately US$500 million.
He argued that reducing this dependence could retain more money within the domestic economy and create additional opportunities for Ghanaian farmers, processors, traders and other businesses operating across the rice value chain.
The government has set a national target of producing 3.31 million metric tonnes of paddy rice by 2028.
The ambition comes as domestic production continues to increase but remains below the pace of demand driven by population growth, urbanisation and changing consumer preferences.
Milled rice production reportedly rose from about 650,000 tonnes in 2024 to 960,000 tonnes in 2025.
Despite that improvement, the production gap remains substantial, making increased productivity and investment in the sector necessary if Ghana is to reduce imports significantly.
The REWARD Project is expected to address several of the challenges that have limited Ghana’s rice production.
Under the programme, about 3,200 hectares of land in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone will be developed for rice cultivation.
The project will also provide improved seeds, mechanisation and other support to farmers, with the objective of increasing average yields from approximately 3.5 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes per hectare.
More than 20,000 smallholder farmers are expected to benefit from the intervention across selected districts, including Tamale Metropolitan, Mion, Savelugu, East Mamprusi, West Gonja, Bawku West, Wa Municipal, Sissala East and Nandom.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture says the project will not focus solely on production. It will also address challenges further along the value chain, including processing, storage, marketing and access to markets.
Ten strategically located rice processing centres are expected to be identified and equipped with relevant machinery, including rice parboiling equipment. Editorial Ethics & Independence
Hermetic storage facilities will also be introduced to help reduce post-harvest losses and improve the preservation of harvested rice.
This component is particularly important because increasing farm output alone may not be enough to make locally produced rice competitive.
Without adequate processing, storage and reliable market connections, farmers can face difficulties selling their produce at remunerative prices while consumers may continue to prefer imported varieties.
The African Development Bank says the wider REWARD initiative is designed to increase rice productivity, strengthen market systems and improve the resilience of rice production.
It includes interventions involving climate-resilient production systems, processing clusters, commercial linkages, policy reforms and climate adaptation.
Government also intends to connect rice produced under the initiative to institutional markets, including schools, prisons and other public institutions.
Such arrangements could provide farmers with more predictable demand while helping public institutions increase their use of locally produced food.
The government is simultaneously considering changes to the country’s rice import policy.
Mr Opoku said import quotas would be linked to local investment, with importers expected to demonstrate verifiable partnerships with domestic rice producers before receiving import permits.
The minister stressed that the policy would not amount to an outright ban on imported rice. Instead, the government wants import activity to contribute to strengthening local production and creating opportunities for domestic farmers and businesses. Corrections Policy
The approach is significant because a sudden restriction on rice imports could affect consumers, particularly if domestic supply is unable to meet demand or locally produced rice remains more expensive than imported alternatives.
For the strategy to succeed, Ghana will therefore need to increase production while improving the quality, consistency and competitiveness of locally produced rice.
Additional support is also expected from Japan. The government has announced a grant of approximately US$2.5 million for equipment to strengthen Ghana’s rice seed and production capacity.
The support is expected to include combined harvesters, trucks, seed-cleaning machines, maintenance equipment and other agricultural machinery. The equipment is scheduled to arrive in Ghana in November 2026, with training for value-chain participants also planned.
The REWARD Project is expected to be formally launched in the first week of November 2026, ahead of the 2027 production season.
This timeline means preparations during the coming months will be important in determining how effectively the project reaches farmers and gets the necessary infrastructure and equipment in place.
For farmers, the success of the programme will ultimately depend on more than the distribution of machinery and inputs.
Access to irrigation, quality seeds, extension services, financing, reliable markets and appropriate storage will be crucial to maintaining higher yields and ensuring that increased production translates into better incomes.
There is also a need for effective monitoring to ensure that project resources reach the intended beneficiaries and that equipment remains available and properly maintained.
If successfully implemented, the initiative could provide significant opportunities across Ghana’s agricultural economy. Higher rice production could create jobs not only on farms but also in processing, transportation, storage, packaging, trading and related services. Newscard
It could also reduce Ghana’s exposure to international rice prices and supply disruptions while keeping a larger share of the value generated by rice consumption within the country.
The government’s 2028 self-sufficiency target is ambitious, particularly given the current 44 percent production gap. However, the combination of the REWARD Project, additional Japanese support, improved mechanisation and proposed policy reforms represents a concerted attempt to close that gap.
The immediate test will be whether these interventions can move from policy announcements and project preparation into sustained improvements in productivity, processing capacity and market access.
For Ghanaian farmers and consumers, the broader objective is clear, produce more quality rice locally, strengthen the businesses supporting the sector and gradually reduce the country’s dependence on imported rice without creating shortages or placing unnecessary pressure on consumers.
With the REWARD Project scheduled to enter its implementation phase ahead of the 2027 production season, the coming years will be critical in determining whether Ghana can turn its rice self-sufficiency ambition into a sustainable reality.