By Edward Acquah, GNA
Accra, June 2, GNA – Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for stronger investments in Africa’s agricultural sector.
She said the future of the continent’s food security must be grown on African soil and sustained through regional cooperation and Africa must build resilient food systems capable of reducing dependence on imports and shielding economies from global shocks, supply chain disruptions and food price volatility.
The Vice President made the call on Tuesday when she opened the West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, she said food security was not only an agricultural issue but also a matter of economic stability, social protection, national security and geopolitical independence.
“The future of African food security must be grown in African soil, financed by beneficial partnerships, powered by African enterprise and sustained through regional cooperation,” she said.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang noted that despite its vast agricultural potential, Africa continued to spend more than 50 billion dollars annually on food imports, with rice accounting for a significant share of the import bill.
She said West Africa possessed fertile land, water resources, entrepreneurial farmers and a youthful population, but needed greater investment across the agricultural value chain to unlock its potential.
The Vice President said transforming the rice sector would require investments in irrigation, agro-processing, research, climate-smart agriculture and logistics to strengthen regional food systems and create jobs.
She reiterated Ghana’s commitment to implementing its Agriculture for Economic Transformation agenda to build integrated agricultural value chains and position agriculture as a driver of industrial growth, exports and economic resilience.
Mr Eric Opoku, Minister of Food and Agriculture, said Ghana consumed about 1.71 million tonnes of rice annually but produced only 960,000 tonnes, leaving a deficit of approximately 751,000 tonnes.
He said the country spent about 320 million dollars each year on rice imports and outlined measures aimed at achieving rice self-sufficiency within the next decade.
The Minister announced the completion of advanced satellite-based mapping of rice-suitable lands across the country to provide investors with verified and monitorable opportunities for production.
He also disclosed plans to introduce an import quota policy that would require rice importers to demonstrate partnerships with local producers before obtaining import permits.
Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said rice remained central to West Africa’s food security agenda, although regional production currently met only about 60 per cent of demand.
He said the Roundtable should serve as a catalyst for mobilising investment, strengthening partnerships and accelerating implementation of the ECOWAS Rice Roadmap 2025-2035 aimed at achieving regional rice self-sufficiency by 2035.
The West Africa Rice Investment Roundtable brought together government officials, development partners, financial institutions, private investors and agricultural stakeholders to mobilise investment for the rice value chain and advance regional food security objectives.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
Reporter: Edward Acquah