{
  "id": 19443764,
  "title": "Government launches REWARD-Ghana to strengthen rice production",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/11/government-launches-reward-ghana-to-strengthen-rice-production",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-11T04:14:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghana Business News",
    "slug": "ghana-business-news",
    "url": "https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2026/11/11/government-launches-reward-ghana-to-strengthen-rice-production/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ghanaian government has initiated the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chain Development project, known as REWARD-Ghana, aimed at bolstering rice production across the nation. This five-year initiative, set to run from 2026 to 2030, seeks to bolster food security, lower import expenses, and generate jobs, particularly for women and youth. Backed by a $18.8 million investment from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the project is being launched in seven Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) nestled in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone, a region renowned for rice cultivation.\n\nAmong the regions included are the Northern Region's Tamale, Mion, and Savelugu, the Upper West Region's Nandom and Wa Municipal, the North East Region's Mamprugu-Moagduri, and the Savannah Region's West Gonja. Beneficiaries of the project will range from anchor farmers and smallholder farmers to mechanization service providers, aggregators, off-takers, and processors. The project's overarching goal is aligned with the Feed Ghana Programme, which targets a rice self-sufficiency level of 3.31 million metric tonnes by 2028.\n\nPresently, domestic milled rice output stands at approximately 960,000 metric tonnes annually, providing sustenance for only half of the national demand, with the remainder being imported, leading to an estimated annual expenditure of US$500 million on rice imports. The REWARD-Ghana project aims to cultivate 3,200 hectares of land, provide enhanced seeds, agricultural inputs, and machinery, such as rotary tillers, seed drills, rice transplanters, boom sprayers, and mini crawler combine harvesters. Additionally, existing rice processing facilities will be equipped with color sorters, destoners, and improved parboiling vessels to elevate the quality and competitiveness of locally processed rice.\n\nEric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, underscored the project's significance in Ghana's efforts to achieve national rice self-sufficiency. He emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and timely project delivery, while also calling on private investors to seize the opportunities in seed production, mechanization services, processing, packaging, storage, and distribution to strengthen the domestic rice industry.\n\nThe Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, highlighted the region's ample potential for rice production but stressed the necessity of adequate support, agricultural services, and reliable market opportunities. He emphasized the importance of collaboration among regional and district authorities, traditional leaders, farmer-based organizations, processors, traders, and private sector stakeholders to ensure the project's successful implementation.\n\nDr. Damian Ihedioha, the Division Manager of Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department at AfDB, stressed the project's goal to translate the Feed Ghana Programme's objectives into tangible outcomes for farmers and businesses. He urged project managers to synchronize activities with the agricultural calendar and involve farmers, communities, local authorities, and private businesses in decision-making.\n\nEbenezer Kwasi Botchey, Head of the AfDB Unit at the Ministry of Finance, reiterated the project's intent to augment rice production, enhance processing capabilities, and strengthen market connections. He anticipated direct benefits for over 20,000 smallholder farmers, with a notable focus on women and youth.",
  "summary": "The government has launched the Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chain Development project (REWARD-Ghana) to strengthen rice production in the country. The post Government launches REWARD-Ghana to strengthen rice production appeared first on Ghana Business News .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}