Rice Farmers in Central Region benefit from Rice Value chain Training
Story: Hajia Asana Gordon
Over a thousand rice farmers in the Central Region have undergone a three-day capacity building on Rice Value Chain component.
The training was organized by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as well as BENDA Services Group (BSG).
It was to enable the beneficiary rice farmers excel in local rice branding in the Ghanaian market.
The farmers were taken through direct seeding methods and seedling preparation technology and practical training on the use of rice seed drill equipment, an equipment presented by the Government of Korea through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
The training coincided with the launch of the Central Regional Rice Co-operative Union.
The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan in a speech read on her behalf, mentioned that “KOICA Rice Value Chain project has transformed the rice sector in the Central Region”.
“Farmers have reported increase in revenue from rice cultivation, and this is transforming households, improving lives and reducing poverty, thus positioning the Central Region as a rice production hub in the country”, Mrs. Marigold Assan stated.
Mrs. Marigold Assan observed that, “Central region is blessed with fertile lands, suitable climate, and abundant water resources and all essential elements for successful rice cultivation”.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the BENDA Services Group (BSG), the Local Implementing Partner for the KOICA Rice project, Benjamin Edusah said his outfit was working hard to increase the voice of the rice farmers through advocacy in rice production in the Central Region and Ghana as whole.
He again stated that his team is introducing rice farmers into large scale rice production to enable them achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in the next few years.
The Project Manager for KOICA, Dr Chung Haegun, in an address, reiterated the commitment of his organisation towards supporting initiatives aimed at increasing rice production in the Central Region.
Gnewsprime.com
