President Akufo-Addo has advocated for the patronage of locally produced rice.
In his speech at the 35th National Farmers’ Day celebration held in Ho, the Volta regional capital, President Akufo-Addo said Ghanaians must support local farmers by consuming produce in a bid to boost self-sufficiency.
He added that the success of government’s efforts in ensuring self-sufficiency in rice production depends largely on the level of consumption of local rice.
“The success of government’s efforts in ensuring self-sufficiency in rice production depends largely on the level of consumption of local rice. We must eat what we grow to motivate our farmers and support the development of the local food industry.”
Citing himself as an example, the president said, “Rebecca, my beautiful wife, our First Lady, insists that we eat local rice at home and has made sure of this. I call on all Ghanaians to follow my example and eat local rice.”
The President also said his administration will continue “to prioritize and support agriculture to make the sector one of the most viable driving forces of Ghana’s economic development and transformation.”
He further stated that the state is importing milling materials from China and Brazil, as part of the government’s moves to support local rice production.
The materials, according to him are expected to arrive in Ghana in the middle of 2020 to provide “appreciable relieve to farmers and boost the grain industry.”
