FESF Foundation calls for stronger rice production to boost food security

The FESF Foundation has called for increased investment in Ghana’s rice sector, saying stronger domestic production is critical to food security and economic growth.

The Foundation says Ghana must move beyond simply producing more rice and focus on improving productivity, quality, irrigation, mechanisation, storage, processing and access to finance.

The call was made at the 5th FESF Foundation Food Security Lecture, held under the theme “Rice: A Global Crop for Food Security and Economic Growth.”

Rice is one of the world’s major staple foods and supports millions of people across the agricultural value chain, including farmers, processors, traders and transporters.

For Ghana, however, growing demand for rice has meant a heavy reliance on imports. According to data cited by the Foundation, Ghana’s rice import bill increased nearly 30-fold in 21 years, rising from GH¢104 million in 2004 to GH¢3.23 billion in 2024.

The Foundation attributed the increase partly to global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 commodity price shock and Vietnam’s export restrictions in 2023.

It said these developments directly affected Ghana’s import bill and household spending on rice. The Foundation believes this situation presents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ghana.

It said reducing the country’s dependence on imported rice could help conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, strengthen rural economies and support broader economic growth.

The Foundation stressed that food security cannot be achieved simply by producing enough food. It said food must also be available, affordable, accessible, nutritious and safe.

This, it said, requires investment across the entire food system, from production and storage to processing, transportation, distribution and consumption. The Foundation also described food security as a national security issue, arguing that a country that cannot reliably feed its population remains vulnerable, particularly during periods of crisis.

“A nation that can feed itself in normal conditions and in times of crisis is in a better position to defend itself, develop itself and determine its own future,” the Foundation said.

According to the Foundation, Ghana’s rice sector has the potential to become a major driver of economic transformation.It said a stronger rice industry could attract investment, create jobs for young people and women, support smallholder farmers and promote the growth of agro-processing.

However, it stressed that this will require closer collaboration between government, farmers, financial institutions, researchers, development partners and the private sector.

The Foundation further called for policies that encourage investment, financing systems that reduce risks for farmers and research that responds directly to the needs of producers.

The Foundation also warned that climate change could pose a major threat to rice production.

It cited changing rainfall patterns, floods, droughts, rising temperatures, pests and diseases as challenges that farmers will increasingly have to deal with.

It therefore called for greater investment in irrigation, climate-smart technologies, improved rice varieties and sustainable management of land and water resources.

The Foundation expressed hope that discussions at the lecture would produce practical recommendations for developing Ghana’s rice sector and strengthening food security across Africa.

It urged stakeholders to look beyond the challenges and explore ways of turning rice production into a driver of economic growth, job creation, industrialisation and rural development.