• New project targets rice farmers in Ghana’s middle belt regions
• Backed by AGRA and the Agriculture Ministry, with focus on training and financing
• Yields expected to rise 28% to 4.5 tons per hectare, reducing import dependence

Ghana has launched a project called Enhancing the Competitiveness of Rice Production, Processing and Marketing in Ghana to support rice farmers in the country’s middle belt. The area covers the Bono, Bono East, Ashanti, Ahafo, and Eastern regions.

The three-year initiative is led by a consortium including the John A. Kufuor Foundation (JAKF), Hopeline Institute, which focuses on community development and rural entrepreneurship, and agrifintech company FarmWallet Limited.

According to local media, the project is funded by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) with support from the Ministry of Agriculture. It will focus on improving farming practices, promoting modern technologies, strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, and helping farmers access financing.

Yields to rise by nearly 30%

The program aims to raise rice yields to 4.5 tons per hectare, up 28% from the 3.5-ton average recorded during the 2024/2025 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

If successful, the initiative could be scaled up nationwide to cover all rice-growing areas. For Ghana, the goal is to increase local production and gradually reduce dependence on imports. USDA data shows rice imports rose 29% to reach a record 1.1 million tons in 2024/2025.