Government has announced plans to establish dedicated rice development hubs in Western and Northern Ghana as part of a broader push to boost local production and cut reliance on imports.
Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in Parliament, the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, explained that the hubs will be structured around key agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation, mechanisation, silos, modern mills, packaging, and logistics.
According to the Minister, the intervention is expected to bring an additional 100,000 hectares of land under cultivation, projecting yields of between five and six metric tonnes per hectare while supporting roughly 125,000 jobs across the value chain.
To attract private sector participation and drive down production costs, Dr. Forson noted that all rice development hubs will benefit from targeted tax incentives. These reliefs will cover investments in irrigation, mechanisation, silos, modern mills, packaging, and logistics, with the overarching goal of minimising post-harvest losses and making locally produced rice more competitive on the market.
Beyond production, the Finance Minister revealed that government will amend existing public procurement laws to guarantee a ready market for local farmers. Under the proposed changes, public institutions—including schools and hospitals—will be legally required to use state funds strictly to purchase rice and other staples grown in Ghana.
Dr. Forson stressed that aligning public spending with domestic agriculture will provide farmers with a reliable off-taker market, strengthen local livelihoods, and generate sustainable employment across the country.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana