The Ghana Rice Inter-Professional Body (GRIB), has called on government to procure made in Ghana rice for government agencies and institutions such as Ghana prisons and schools on government’s school feeding programme.
According to them, government must set the pace by buying locally grown rice for the ordinary Ghanaian to follow.
Speaking at a National Rice Standards and Certification Workshop, the president for GRIB, Imoro Amoro, said the sector could employ many Ghanaians if made in Ghana rice is highly patronized.
“We want to appeal to the government to use its purchasing power to procure made in Ghana rice for all government agencies especially the prisons and schools benefiting from the school feeding programme. This will create jobs and strengthen the country’s economy by saving over five hundred million dollars used in importing rice annually.”
Mr. Imoro urged stakeholders to cash in as the local rice business expands.
“There is the need for stakeholders to take advantage of the huge potentials available in the rice value chain. Intensification of production through transplanting (SRI) and the use of good quality seed hold the potential for -increased incomes for farmers. Ensuring good processing methods such as cleaning and de-stoning must be adhered to for good quality rice to be produced and well packaged to meet standards and be competitive with the imported rice.”
He also praised Citi FM for its tremendous input in promoting made in Ghana rice, saying “we also want to commend the media especially Citi FM for always supporting the agenda of Eat Ghana Rice and patronage of our local products. I will also take the opportunity to seek for sponsorship from our partners, rice producers and marketers, the corporate body for “Eat Ghana Rice Campaign and this year’s Ghana Rice Festival in November.”
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