The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon George Oduro has said government is committed to boost rice production in the country, to reduce importation as well as creating jobs for the Ghanaian youth.
Speaking to Rite Morning Ride, the minister revealed measures notably ‘planting for food and jobs,’ newly introduced Irrigation land facility system, supporting rice farmers with certified seeds, marketing services, e-agriculture, fertilizer and extension services to boost production.
This according to him, would help reduce the importation of rice by half.
“This year alone, our target to stop the importation of rice by 50 percent, may be, we can achieve that or more. We are putting measures to stop the importation of these food items because the possibility of us producing them here is there, we can”, he narrated.
The deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture disclosed that Ghana spends almost over a billion dollars to import rice into the country annually since 2015.
Describing the situation as a disaster and worrying, Hon George Oduro said statistics available indicated that from the year 2007 to 2015, the importation of rice, a leading import commodity in the country, rose from about 151 to 1,162 million dollars
The Ministry of Agriculture says, these plans when enrolled will reduce the importation of rice by at least 50 percent this year and this is to enhance the growth and consumption of local rice in Ghana.
He said the ministry is rehabilitating a three major irrigation dams that includes the Kpone irrigation facility expecting to be completed by September this year covering over 2200 hectares, Tono irrigation facility is also under rehabilitation.
Adding that the ministry is also preparing to construct another big dam which will cost about $600 million in addition to other existing irrigation facilities in the country. He said preparations are far advanced regarding its construction.
He therefore urged the youth to take full advantage of the government flagship policy planting for food and job.
“I will urge the graduate to see agriculture as a serious business venture, its lucrative and if we come together to show the interest, that is the only way we can solve this problem” he added.
Responding to questions regarding the Aveyimeh rice project, the deputy minister said government is working hard to revive it in due time.
US investors in the Aveyime Rice Project are accusing government of deception over how the company has been brought to its knees.
Equipment at the collapsed project site continues to deteriorate following what residents say is neglect by government and other shareholdersThe Prairie Volta Limited known popularly as the Aveyime Rice Project was in the business of growing rice which it packaged and sold under the brand name, Volta Rice, with Jasmine perfumed and Serra varieties.
It halted operations three years ago and the residents are demanding that government revamps it to help provide jobs and reduce the country’s dependence on imported rice.
The state has a 60% stake in the company with state-owned bank GCB owning 30% and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) owning 30%, whilst US Investor Prairie Texas Incorporated has a 40% stake.
At the height of its operations, the company employed more than 300 people on its farms and rice milling sites. The company produced almost 9,000 tonnes of paddy rice a year. It closed down in 2015.
Irrigation pumps, grain hoppers, equipment for planting, harvesting, de-husking and polishing of rice are deteriorating.
Planting and ploughing tools, as well as an aircraft that was used for spraying, have been left without use. The 3000 metric tonnes storage tank for rice is rusting.
Jerry Bortey, the Stores Manager in charge of Inventory Control at the project site told, said they are rusting because they have not been using it for a long period of time. If you are continuously using it, it will not be rusting like this.”
“Some of the equipment are not in good shape. Some have been left at the mercy of the weather because we don’t have enough shelter.” Mr. Borte
The company has a long checkered history. It started as the Quality Grain Project for which some officials in the Rawlings Administration were jailed.
In April 2003, an Accra Fast Track Court sentenced former Finance Minister Kwame Peprah to four years in prison over the project.
Ibrahim Adam, former Minister of Food and Agriculture and George Yankey, a former Director at the Ministry of Finance were also sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each.
They were found guilty for causing financial loss to the state over the Rawlings government’s decision to hand US citizen Juliet Cotton $19 million for the rice project which went waste because she allegedly misused the money.
When the dust settled, the Kufuor Administration sought to revive the project in 2007 and brought in Prairie Texas Incorporated, led by Ghanaian John VanDyk-Mensah.
The project was officially opened in May 2008 as Prairie Volta Limited by former Minister for Agriculture Ernest Debrah.
By: Austin Ofori Addo/ritefmonline.com/austinofori.addo@gmail.com
