The Ghana Rice Industrialisation Strategy (GRIS) has the potential to unlock significant economic benefits, including the retention of US$8.5 billion in foreign exchange and the creation of more than 800,000 jobs, according to the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana.
The Chamber says the proposed strategy offers a pathway to transform Ghana’s rice sector from an import-dependent market into a thriving agro-industrial value chain driven by local production and processing.
According to projections by the Chamber, the initiative could attract up to US$1.8 billion in private-sector investment over the next five years while generating more than GH¢10 billion in tax revenue for the state.
The strategy is also expected to support the development of over 350,000 hectares of additional rice cultivation, creating employment opportunities across farming, processing, logistics and distribution.
The Chamber argues that Ghana’s current rice market presents a contradiction. While domestic production has increased substantially, imported rice continues to dominate shelves, leaving large quantities of locally produced rice unsold.
To address the challenge, the proposed framework would encourage greater utilisation of local processing capacity, strengthen domestic value addition and reduce reliance on imported milled rice.
Industry stakeholders believe the policy could become a key pillar of Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda by boosting rural incomes, supporting industrialisation and conserving scarce foreign exchange.
The Chamber has called on the government, Parliament and key economic ministries to fast-track implementation of the strategy, describing it as a practical opportunity to strengthen food security, create jobs and position Ghana as a leading rice-producing and exporting nation in Africa.
According to the Chamber, the time has come for Ghana to move beyond simply creating an enabling environment and adopt a more proactive industrial approach to developing the rice sector and broader agricultural economy.
Source: businesspostonline
