He said rice remained a critical staple in Ghana and across the region, requiring sustained investment and strategic focus. 

The Program Officer was speaking at a Breakfast Dialogue and Policy Discussion titled, “Eat Ghana Rice Campaign,” in Accra, which was also under the theme, “Promoting Ghana Rice Consumption for National Food Security and Economic Growth.” 

Mr. Dahiya said AGRA had invested over $40 million in rice development across Africa over the past two decades, with a significant share directed towards Ghana through multiple projects. 

He noted that although Ghana had made progress in increasing rice production, challenges with quality and consistency continued to limit the ability of local rice to compete with imports. 

“Quality and consistency are critical. We cannot deliver quality today and fail tomorrow. Every Ghanaian deserves access to quality food, including rice, on a consistent basis,” he said. 

He explained that addressing these challenges would require investments in modern processing equipment and systems to ensure that rice reaching the market meets consumer expectations. 

Mr Dahiya also highlighted the importance of scaling up production to achieve economies of scale, noting that high production costs, reliance on imported equipment and labour-intensive processes continued to affect competitiveness. 

He called for stronger collaboration among government, development partners and the private sector to drive improvements in the rice value chain. 

“There is also the need for effective branding and awareness campaigns to promote the consumption of locally produced rice, and encourage Ghanaians to prioritise home-grown products,” he added. 

The Program Officer underscored the importance of aligning policies with private sector needs to create a conducive environment for growth in the sector. 

He expressed optimism that with sustained investment and coordinated action, Ghana could build a competitive rice industry and reduce dependence on imports. 

Mr. Sewu Kwadzo Abortta, an Associate with Farmer Globale, an association of rice farmers, called for targeted subsidies and policy reforms across the value chain to enhance local production and make Ghanaian rice more competitive on the market. 

He said improving productivity and reducing production costs were key to enabling local farmers to compete with imported rice. 

Mr Abortta, who doubles as a Farmer Lawyer, noted that increasing yields would allow farmers to sell rice at more affordable prices, potentially between GH?300 and GH?350 per 50kg bag, compared to imported rice which sells for about GH?450 to GH?500. 

“If we support farmers to improve their production strategies and yields, we can bring prices down and compete effectively with foreign rice on the market,” he added. 

Mr Abortta explained that Ghana’s market was largely made up of low- and middle-income consumers, making affordability a critical factor in rice production and marketing. 

He called for subsidies on key inputs such as fertiliser, seeds and agrochemicals, noting that the current cost of fertiliser, averaging about GH?450 per bag, was too high for most farmers. 

The Farmer Lawyer urged government to consider tax exemptions on imported agricultural machinery to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency within the sector. 

He called for policies that guarantee farmers access to land for longer periods, suggesting a minimum of five years to encourage investment in land development and improved yields. 

Mr Abortta emphasized that addressing these challenges holistically, from policy and financing to production and partnerships would significantly reduce costs and strengthen the competitiveness of Ghana’s rice sector.