The Ministry of Food and Agriculture in Ghana is set to formally launch the $18.8 million Regional West African Resilient Rice Value Chains Project (REWARD) in November 2026. This initiative, funded by the African Development Bank, aims to increase domestic rice production and reduce the country's dependence on imports. The project will focus on the northern savannah ecological zone, where 3,200 hectares of land will be developed for rice cultivation.
Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku stated that the project would tackle major constraints across Ghana's rice value chain and position the sector for increased production ahead of the 2027 farming season. The project plans to benefit more than 20,000 smallholder farmers, alongside rice processors, aggregators, and other participants within the value chain. Farmers in the selected areas will receive improved seeds, mechanisation services, and other production inputs aimed at increasing yields and improving productivity.
Ghana's milled rice production has shown growth, increasing from approximately 650,000 tonnes in 2024 to 960,000 tonnes in 2025. However, domestic production currently satisfies only about 56% of national demand, leaving a 44% shortfall that must be met through imports. The Agriculture Minister estimated that Ghana spends about $500 million annually on rice imports, which could be earned by Ghanaian farmers, millers, and traders if local production and processing were expanded.
The government is working on a policy that would link rice import quotas to investments in domestic production. Under the proposed arrangement, importers would be required to establish verifiable partnerships with local rice producers before they could obtain import permits. This policy aims to encourage importers to invest in the local industry rather than banning imported rice, which could hurt consumers.
The REWARD project will support the establishment and upgrading of 10 strategically located rice processing centres. The initiative will also improve storage infrastructure and strengthen connections between farmers, processors, and markets to reduce bottlenecks along the value chain. This will help narrow the gap between domestic rice supply and national demand.
In addition to the REWARD project, Japan has provided a $2.5 million grant to support Ghana's rice value chain with agricultural equipment. The support includes eight combined harvesters and 11 seed-cleaning machines, which are expected to arrive in November 2026. This intervention is expected to strengthen production and processing capacity.
The combined interventions aim to help Ghana achieve rice self-sufficiency by 2028, with a national target of producing 3.31 million metric tonnes of paddy. The government's efforts to boost domestic rice production and reduce imports are crucial in saving foreign exchange and empowering local farmers, millers, and traders.
Key points
- The project will benefit more than 20,000 smallholder farmers and aims to increase domestic rice production.
- Ghana spends about $500 million annually on rice imports.
- The government targets achieving rice self-sufficiency by 2028.
