ACCRA, Aug 4 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved $18.8 million grant for Ghana to strengthen its rice industry, as the country seeks to reduce reliance on imports and improve food security through higher domestic production.
The funding will support implementation of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains (REWARD) project, which is designed to raise rice productivity, modernise processing, improve market access and create jobs across the agricultural value chain.
The project comes as Ghana continues to face a widening gap between domestic rice production and consumption, leaving the country dependent on imports and vulnerable to fluctuations in global food prices.
The initiative will invest in climate-resilient farming systems, expand access to improved seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation, and finance irrigation and land development in selected districts of Ghana’s Northern Savannah Ecological Zone, an area regarded as having significant agricultural potential despite infrastructure and climate-related constraints.
The project will also modernise rice processing facilities, strengthen links between producers and markets, and encourage greater private sector participation across the value chain.
Halima Hashi, AfDB Country Manager for Ghana, said the investment would improve the competitiveness of Ghana’s rice industry while supporting broader economic objectives.
“This project will help strengthen Ghana’s rice value chain by increasing productivity, improving market access and supporting agribusiness development,” she said.
“By investing in climate-resilient agriculture, the initiative will contribute to food security, job creation and more inclusive economic growth.”
The REWARD project forms part of Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda under the Feed Ghana Programme and aligns with the African Development Bank’s priorities on climate-resilient agriculture, private sector development and inclusive growth.
The initiative also supports regional efforts to strengthen food systems across West Africa, where governments are seeking to increase local food production and reduce dependence on imported staples.
