Ghana secures $18.8 million grant to boost rice production

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved a grant of $18.8 million to the Government of Ghana for the implementation of the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains (REWARD) Project.

The project aims to boost domestic rice production, strengthen food security, and create jobs across the agricultural value chain. It will support efforts to increase rice productivity, improve market systems, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on rice imports, while enhancing the competitiveness of locally produced rice.

Agriculture remains central to Ghana’s economy, supporting livelihoods and contributing significantly to food security. However, domestic rice production has not kept pace with rising demand, leaving the country to rely on imports and exposed to global price volatility.

The REWARD project seeks to address these challenges through investments in climate-resilient rice production systems, improved access to quality inputs and mechanization, and enhanced irrigation and land development in key production areas.

The initiative will also support the modernisation of rice processing facilities, strengthen market linkages, and promote greater private sector participation across the rice value chain.

Implementation will focus on selected districts within Ghana’s Northern Savannah Ecological Zone, an area with significant agricultural potential where productivity remains constrained by climate risks, inadequate infrastructure, and weak market integration.

“This project will help strengthen Ghana’s rice value chain by increasing productivity, improving market access, and supporting agribusiness development,” said Halima Hashi Country Manager, Ghana Country Office, African Development Bank Group. "By investing in climate-resilient agriculture, the initiative will contribute to food security, job creation, and more inclusive economic growth.”

The REWARD project aligns with Ghana’s national development priorities, including its agricultural transformation and food security agenda under the Feed Ghana Programme.

It also supports the African Development Bank’s strategic priorities of climate-resilient agriculture, private sector development, and inclusive growth, while contributing to broader regional efforts to strengthen food systems and resilience across West Africa.

SOURCE:3NEWS