AfDB Allocates $18.8M to Boost Ghana's Rice Production

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has granted Ghana $18.8 million to strengthen its rice value chain as part of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains (REWARD) project. This initiative aims to help Ghana achieve self-sufficiency in rice production by 2028, reducing its annual rice import costs of approximately $500 million.

Ghana’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, stated that the project will enhance productivity and competitiveness of locally produced rice. It will develop 3,200 hectares for rice cultivation, increasing yields from 3.5 tonnes to 4.5 tonnes per hectare, benefiting over 20,000 smallholder farmers.

The project will also establish seed centres, 10 rice-processing centres, and improve farm machinery and storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses. Ghana's milled rice production increased from about 650,000 tonnes in 2024 to 960,000 tonnes in 2025, yet domestic output only met 56% of demand.

The project is set to launch in the first week of November 2026, ahead of the 2027 farming season.