Rice production to go up - Acheampong

Accra (Greater Accra), 4^th February 2000

Mr. Mike Acheampong, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, told Parliament on Thursday that it is estimated that 672,000 tonnes of paddy rice would be produced locally in 2006 as against the current annual production of 221,000 tonnes.

Mr. Acheampong, who was answering parliamentary questions, said under the 'Vision 2020' perspective plan, rice is expected to play a key role in achieving national food security.

Rice is becoming increasingly a staple food consumed throughout the country and that it has been estimated that per capita consumption had more than doubled from 7.0 kilogram a year in 1988/89 to 16.3 kilograms in 1994/95.

He attributed the increased consumption to the development of rice trade as a result of trade liberalisation.

Mr. Kwakye Addo, NDC-Afram Plains South, had asked the Minister about the sector's plans to promote the cultivation and marketing of rice locally to reduce its importation.

Mr. Acheampong told the House that the Ministry has produced a development policy to increase paddy rice production.

He said that as part of the efforts, 4,000 tonnes of good quality rice seed would be made available for planting next year.

Agricultural Extension agents of the Ministry are also being trained and motivated to transfer improved technology to farmers to ensure the production of rice of high quality.

Mr. Acheampong said under Ghana's medium term agricultural development programme, a World Bank supported national livestock services project was initiated in 1993 to cater for the genetic improvement of ruminants, under which an open nucleus breeding scheme was adopted as the breed improvement approach.

He was explaining the Ministry's programme to step up the rearing of ruminants in the Afram Plains in particular and the savannah zone in general to meet the country's protein requirements.

He said under the scheme, three of the national breeding stations have been upgraded into open nucleus breeding centres for ruminants, adding that Pong-Tamale is responsible for the improvement of the West African shorthorn cattle.

Ejura in Ashanti and Kintampo in the Brong Ahafo Region are undertaking improvement of the Djallonke sheep and the West African dwarf goat respectively.

Mr. Acheampong noted that the small ruminants' aspect of the project has been relatively successful due to the comparatively short generation interval.

The Minister announced that since the inception of the project, 578 sheep, 396 goats and 267 cattle have been supplied to farmers throughout the country.

He said currently, there are 624 breeding sheep at Ejura and 582 breeding goats at Kintampo open nucleus breeding centres.

There are also plans to intensify the small ruminant improvement and multiplication under a programme being prepared for implementation this year and beyond.

Mr. Acheampong said a unit has been created within the Ministry to test and package production technologies for exporters of pineapples, pawpaw and vegetables to increase export earnings.

He said consultants have been engaged to improve on current production techniques and to ensure quality produce that would meet the demands of the export market.

In addition, he said, the Ministry was encouraging the formation of commodity groups to promote specific non-traditional export crops.

The Minister said the sector is also organising training workshops for farmers and farm managers on new technologies for efficient production, harvesting and post-harvest handling, packaging and transportation.

GRi