GHS 6.8bn spent on rice importation in 4 years – Minister for Trade and Industry
Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has disclosed that some GHC6.874 billion was spent on importation of rice in four years.
The assertion by the Minister comes on the back of consistent calls for the ramping of the production and consumption of local rice in Ghana.
Rice has over the years become the most consumed food staple in Ghana after maize. The cereal’s consumption in 2017/18 was estimated at 1 million megatonnes.
Mr. Kyerematen in response to a question posed by Mohammed Mutala, the MP for Tamale Central gave a breakdown of imports with respect to rice and other foodstuffs into the country in the past 4 years.
“Mr. Speaker, Ghana spent an estimated total of GHC 6.874 billion on the importation of rice from 2017 to 2020. In addition Mr. Speaker, Ghana also imported the following food products over the same period.
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“Fish, an amount of GHC 3.9 million, processed chicken an amount of GHC 1.881 million, meat GHC 487 million, vegetables GHC 281 million, and then poultry in the form of birds GHC 184 million.”
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) identified rice as an important food crop that should be given special attention to in 2020 for food self-sufficiency in Ghana; however, the country currently imports about 50 per cent of rice consumed.
Rice farmers in the past have been challenged by the lack of patronage for their produce, various campaigns by media houses in the country in 2019, sought to create the awareness around local rice consumption and the challenges rice farmers in the country face.
