JICA pledges GH₵35 million for rice seed production plant in Northern Ghana — Agric Minister

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku has said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has pledged GH₵35 million towards the establishment of a rice seed production plant in Northern Ghana.

The facility, is expected to improve timely seed production, increase access to certified rice seeds and strengthen Ghana’s food security efforts.

Speaking last Tuesday [May 12, 2026], Mr Opoku said the project would significantly boost Ghana’s rice subsector by improving seed availability, enhancing farmer productivity and building the technical capacity of irrigation scheme officers and farmers.

According to the Minister, one of the key challenges confronting local rice production has been the limited supply of quality certified seeds during planting seasons. 

He said the new plant is expected to address this gap and support increased domestic rice production.

Mr Opoku noted that the initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for food security under the “Feed Ghana Programme,” which seeks to ensure year-round food availability, reduce dependence on imports and strengthen connections between farmers, processors and markets.

“As Minister, I pledge the government’s commitment to the judicious utilisation of this financial commitment,” he stated, adding that the project forms part of the broader Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda.

The agenda focuses on improving food security, promoting agricultural modernisation and strengthening Ghana’s agricultural value chain through strategic investment and capacity development.

Training programmes for farmers and irrigation officers will accompany the establishment of the facility to ensure the effective operation and maintenance of the machinery.

Rice remains one of Ghana’s most consumed staple foods, with the country still relying heavily on imports to meet local demand.