New private-public partnership formed to take rice production to scale in Ghana
25 June 2023, Ghana: Jospong Group and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) signed an agreement to bring the latest and best rice technologies to Ghana, with the aim to scale the rice industry in Ghana to replace the large and increasing quantities of rice being imported.
“This new connection builds on the recent agreement between Jospong Group and the Ghana Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), forming a tripartite partnership that will ensure Ghana has access to the latest scientific advancements,” said Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Chair and Founder of Jospong Group.
Rice consumption has almost tripled in the last 10 years in Ghana, with people now consuming approximately 45 kg of rice each per year. This presents excellent opportunities to build new rice-based industries in Ghana. The country faces an urgent need to produce locally to reverse the stress of increasing imports and demand for foreign exchange.
“This new partnership will be very important for ensuring nutritious rice varieties are available in Ghana, like high zinc rice, as well as new methods for being more resilient to climate change,” said Joanna Kane-Potaka, Deputy Director General forStrategy, Engagement & Impact at IRRI.
The partnership was brokered by the High Commissioner, Her Excellency Florence Akonor, who visited IRRI’s global headquarters requesting technical advice and collaboration with the Ghana Rice Program’ private industry and other key stakeholders, and to ensure better yields and livelihoods for farmers, at the same time ensuring sustainable production and the latest nutritious and healthy rice available.
Scale will be reached through investments by the Jospong Group and supporting smallholder farmers with high quality seeds, support and training. “The agreement and the tripartite link is expected to be a model for other countries in Africa to show how it can deepen research for high-quality rice and develop the rice value chain for enhanced national food and nutrition security,” said Dr Abdelbagi Ismail, IRRI-Africa Director.
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