The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, said that the government is determined and determined to change the fortunes of the country in the staple crop sector, especially rice and change it by turning it into a net exporter of rice in the next three years to reduce it. in foreign exchange is spent every year for the import of rice.
According to him, it is a crime for the country to continue importing rice for millions of dollars every year when it is blessed with fertile soil, water, and good weather conditions for farming, so the government through ministerial collaboration and partnership with the private sector will influence. the technical expertise of the Thai rice industry to deliver this ambitious target.
He added that strategic measures are being taken as part of the Ghana Cares Obaatan-pa program to support rice producers and all other value chain players to be sustainable.
“Obaatan-pa identifies agriculture as one of the critical sectors to revitalize and transform the economy. This goal is to ensure rapid competitive import substitution, support for commercial agriculture, increase food security, and the supply of raw materials for the agro-processing industry to add value, job creation, export, and industrialization.
Importing rice worth 2 billion US dollars is not only unsustainable but criminal, so we need to encourage the private sector to produce more and stop this criminal activity. We have seen an increase in hectares cultivated for rice, tons produced per hectare, and a marginal increase of 63 percent in milled rice from 2017 to date. So, there are technological advances, smart seeds that are resistant to diseases, and with the right technical expertise as well as financial support we can become rice exporters in the next three years,” he said.
The minister made these remarks at the ministry while addressing a delegation of rice investors from Thailand who have partnered with the Jospong Group of Companies to develop an integrated rice farming project.
The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Joseph Siaw Agyapong, said that the assurance given by the government to provide strategic support to the private sector in rice production has given his outfit the impetus to embark on a strategic visit to Thailand and learn from best practices. develop partnerships for financial investment in the country’s rice sector.
He indicated that EXIMBANK Thailand has made a financial commitment of $160 million to support the transfer of machinery and technology as a team of experts from Thailand will provide technical support and equipment for the entire rice value chain in the country.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the project to be carried out with Thai expertise is a Ghanaian project and not the Jospong Group because it is bigger than a brand, so all stakeholders in the rice value chain will be consulted and included in the whole process.
While in Thailand, the Jospong Group signed MoUs with key rice sector players for the establishment of seed development and research centers, rice mechanization centers in all regions, bio-organic fertilizer production centers, and the supply of agricultural equipment and rice mills in the country. .
Source: B&FT
| Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are those of the authors and do not reflect Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no legal or other responsibility for the accuracy of the content. Please report inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a priority. |
Featured Videos