The Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) has received 2,500 kg (2.5MT) of high-quality rice seeds from the the Korea International Corporation Agency (KOICA) to improve rice production in the region.
The donation is part of KOICA’s $8 million intervention under the Rice Value Chain Support Programme (RVCSP) for farmers.
By increasing rice output and farmer income, the project aims to enhance the standard of living for rural farmers in the region.
This project which is dubbed, “Central Region Movement for Planting for One More Square Meter of Rice for the Next generation,” has been spearheaded by CRCC and the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.
The Country Director of KOICA, Mr Moon Heon Kong, in an address to beneficiary farmers at a brief presentation ceremony, indicated that the project had a more general objective of encouraging farmers in the recipient districts of the Region to add value to their rice production.
The Country Director lauded the efforts of the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, for her commitment to making Central Region the hub of rice production.
“The estimated $500 million used to import rice into the Ghanaian market can significantly reduce with initiatives such as the “Central Region Movement for Planting One More Square Meter of Rice for the Next Generation,” Mr. Kong said.
He added, “This is a progressive initiative that will eventually help preserve the country’s hard-earned forex, help create jobs with improved livelihoods around the value chain activities, contribute to local economic development, and many other benefits.”
Speaking on behalf of the region, the Regional Minister, said the area has the capacity to produce enough rice to feed the nation, strengthen the economy, and improve farmer livelihoods.
According to her, the Region had planned to become the nation’s center for rice farming and the distribution of rice seedlings.
“Undoubtedly, the region has the capacity and prospects to produce rice to meet local demand and for export and I encourage you all to support,” she explained.
