Home | Goldstreet Business
Thursday, March 30, 2023
  • Home
  • General News
    • Extractives
    • Auto
  • Business
    • Banking and Finance
    • AgriBusiness
    • Insurance
    • Mining
    • Oil and Gas
    • Real Estate/Housing
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Agriculture
    • Maritime/Aviation
    • Energy
    • Education
    • Construction
  • Technology
    • ICT
    • Telecom
  • World
    • Africa
    • International
  • Editorial/Features
  • GSB Data Services
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • General News
    • Extractives
    • Auto
  • Business
    • Banking and Finance
    • AgriBusiness
    • Insurance
    • Mining
    • Oil and Gas
    • Real Estate/Housing
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Agriculture
    • Maritime/Aviation
    • Energy
    • Education
    • Construction
  • Technology
    • ICT
    • Telecom
  • World
    • Africa
    • International
  • Editorial/Features
  • GSB Data Services
No Result
View All Result
Gold Business Logo
No Result
View All Result

Ensuring Rice self-sufficiency in West Africa by 2025

December 5, 2018
in Uncategorized
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In April 2015, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Executive Board approved a US$918 million loan to Ghana to support a reform program aimed at faster growth and job creation while protecting social spending.

The same year, Ghana’s import bill on rice was estimated over US$300 million. This translate that the amount on rice import is one-third of the loan facility Ghana had from IMF.

RELATED POSTS

I came to resolve Africa challenges – US Vice President

South African Rand Declines Against Rising Dollar

Rice is a primary staple food in West Africa. Member States in the ECOWAS sub-region in April 2018, set an offensive programme aimed at making the region self-sufficient in the production of rice by 2025.

The project aimed at increasing production of the commodity in the region to meet the high consumption needs and reduce imports bill to zero.

Statistics indicates that the overall rice production in West African increased by 24% from 2010 and 2016/17 to 9.9 million tonnes of milled rice as consumption was growing by 35%, faster than expected.

It is estimated that to achieve self-sufficiency of the commodity, the region must have the capacity and the machinery to produce more than 24 million tonnes of milled rice that is projected to be consumed by the set date.

This offensive target became necessary due to the high cost of import bill the sub-region has over the years been incurring from rice imports. In 2017, West Africa spent an estimated US$4.16 billion on rice imports and produced only 54 percent of rice consumed same year.

From 2012 to 2017, Nigeria imported about 17 million tonnes of rice and as at 2017, the country spent over US$ 5 million daily on rice shipment. The BBC reported that duties for imported rice were 60% and consumers had seen the price of a bag of rice double in the past 12 months.

Similarly, Ghana’s importation bills on rice heightened to a whopping US$1.2 billion as at 2015. The figure represents a shocking 800 per cent increase of US$152million in 2007.  Despite over 200 percent increase in local rice production in the last decade, statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture suggests that the gap for rice self-sufficiency remains 50 percent.

Improving rice yields with the tried and tested SRI

Ghana was one of 13 West African countries selected for the piloted survey of the System for Rice Intensification (SRI) from 2014 to 2016 as part of activities of the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP).

During the time frame, adaption of the project to lowland systems were largely successful.

“The study shows that in the areas covered by the surveys, SRI practice produced results much superior to conventional rice production practices, showing increased yields of 54 percent under irrigated systems, 65% in the rainfed lowlands, and 153 percent in the rainfed upland systems.

Similarly, the average income for farmers using SRI was 41 percent higher than for those using conventional practice. The study concluded that the project “has proven that SRI can contribute successfully to improving agricultural productivity in West Africa”, says the survey.

The System for Rice Intensification (SRI) has significant potential to close the rice production gap in West Africa. It was developed in 1983 by the French agriculturist, Henri de Laulanié in Madagascar. Currently, about 50 countries are practicing this system, but yet to be commercialized.

It is an agro-ecological method in rice cultivation where seeds are cultivated in roles instead of the using broadcasting method. The process keeps the soil moist which enhances it with compost and other sources of organic nutrients. The process also requires less seed, less water, less pesticides and chemical fertilizers can bring significantly higher yields.

This method makes the plants become stronger and productive, a method which is tried and tested and can increase yields by more than 50 percent, unlike the conventional rice production practices.

The group behind the survey have asserted that if 100 percent of rice farmers in West Africa had used SRI in 2017, rice self-sufficiency would already have been achieved with a 5 percent surplus. Thus, replacing rice imports with rice grown in the region would have saved US$4.16 billion in foreign exchange for 2017 alone.

When this method was applied in some selected areas in the country, irrigated system yields reached 3.76 hectare (t/ha) under conventional practices, while yields were 6.46 t/ha for SRI. In rainfed lowland systems, conventional practices yielded 2.63 t/ha as compared to 5.3 t/ha for SRI

The SRI is gaining ground across Asia as more and more governments come to rely on it for food security.

Speaking with the Goldstreet Business, president of the Ghana Rice Inter-professional Body (GRIB) Nana Kwabena Agyei Aryeh II said the practice of SRI is labour and capital intensive. He added that it is a system where water management and land preparation are key because it involves planting in roles instead of the.

“Can you imagine planting one-acre roles without a planter, you need at least eight, people to be able to do that in a week. You also need quality seed to do that”, he said.

As Ghana plans to be self-sufficient in rice production by 2025, it is import government focuses greater attention on SRI, as the system is capable of reducing the country’s imports bill on rice.

By Dundas Whigham

facebookShare on Facebook
TwitterTweet
ShareTweetShare

Related Posts

I came to resolve Africa challenges – US Vice President

I came to resolve Africa challenges – US Vice President

March 27, 2023
South African Rand Declines Against Rising Dollar

South African Rand Declines Against Rising Dollar

March 27, 2023
Ghana records $752.8m trade surplus in first 2 months of 2023

Ghana records $752.8m trade surplus in first 2 months of 2023

March 27, 2023
The Power of Community in Entrepreneurial Success and Our Call to Action

The Power of Community in Entrepreneurial Success and Our Call to Action

March 27, 2023
DDEP presents a silver lining we must grab with both hands — Abena Amoah 

DDEP presents a silver lining we must grab with both hands — Abena Amoah 

March 22, 2023
Next Post

LAP 2 extended to end 2021

GoG adopts new global accounting standards

Archives

<
March 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
▼
>
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728     
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28      
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
       
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
282930    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829 
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930     
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031
       
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728   
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
       
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    
       
     12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
       
  12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031     
    123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
252627282930 
       
 123456
78910111213
14151617181920
21222324252627
28293031   
       
      1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30      
   1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031 
       

RECOMMENDED

I came to resolve Africa challenges – US Vice President

I came to resolve Africa challenges – US Vice President

March 27, 2023
South African Rand Declines Against Rising Dollar

South African Rand Declines Against Rising Dollar

March 27, 2023

MOST VIEWED

Plugin Install : Popular Post Widget need JNews - View Counter to be installed
  • Energy
  • Health
  • Auto
  • International
  • Subscription Form
  • Staff Webmail
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Call us: +233 24 432 0902 | info@goldstreetbusiness.com

© Copyright © 2020 goldstreetbusiness.com. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Homepages
    • Homepage Layout 1
    • Homepage Layout 2
  • World
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Health

© Copyright © 2020 goldstreetbusiness.com. All Rights Reserved.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.