By Prince Paul Amuzu:
The Executive Secretary for the Ghana Rice and Inter-Professional Body, Mr. Evans Sackey has blamed the low patronage of rice on its farmers. This according to him is due to the rice farmers not adhering to advice and information relevant to their occupation.
Speaking in an interview with Rite News on the causes of low patronage of local rice, the executive Secretary said, the rice farmers themselves are mainly responsible for the low patronage of their products. This he attributed to most rice farmers not being part of the value chain organizations that educate the rice farmers on the variety of rice to plant to suit the taste of the Ghanaians.
‘Most of the farmers are not part of the organizations that help in finding the right market for rice. They don’t come to meetings for education on what type of rice to plant to suit the Ghanaian market system and also to register their problems for address,’ Mr. Sackey stated.
He also debunked suggestions that Ghanaians are averse to made in Ghana rice, arguing that the situation is due to rice farmers not planting the right variety of rice.
‘It is not true that Ghanaians do not like local rice but it is rather the attitudes of the rice farmers that is causing the situation. This is because they are not part of the Ghana Rice value chain that scan the rice market to determine the variety to plant to suit the local market and for exportations as well as its ready market for its members due to its links,’ he explained.
The Executive Secretary therefore urged the rice farmers to involve themselves in the value chain by registering so that they can get the necessary education on their problems.
Source: ritefmonline.org
