Food sufficiency is a significant concern to the government of every nation. Rice is a type of food plant in Africa, and it is alarming that most African countries depend on Importation. So, to increase rice production, the Nigerian Government shut its borders. Although there were challenges in producing enough rice to feed the nation, it encouraged Nigerians to purchase the locally made Rice. Businesses and neighboring countries to Nigeria experienced set back, but Nigeria is on a course to the self-sufficiency of food supply. And now, Ghana has joined the path to increasing domestic Rice production in 2020. Yes, the African soil can produce rice so, why then do we depend on the importation of rice for consumption?
Ghana Rice production And Importation
Ghana is a nation that can produce rice but are large importers of foreign rice produce. The nation had to import because their consumption outstripped production. The report has it that rice production in Ghana fell to 577,977 tones in 2016. While domestic production and consumption grew from 44% in 2016 to 47% of total consumption in 2017. The production of local rice thereby reduced the import burden that its economic cost is on the rise. However, the nation’s domestic production has increased by 27% that is, from 569,500 tones in 2013 to 721,610 tonnes in 2017.oxfordbusinessgroup.com Most people in Ghana prefer imported rice just like in Nigeria. This is because they feel it imported rice has better quality. Hence there was a need to boost local rice production within the country to meet the demand for rice.
How Nigeria Was Able To Achieve Increase In Local Rice Production.
The Nigerian government closed the Land Borders of Nigerian after it was announced about three months ago. The Buhari administration had said, his decision is aimed at controlling smuggled goods brought into the country and also to severe trade with these countries. The country is making efforts to engage in informal sales of goods produced within the country. While it ensures that informal trade is aimed at promoting farmers and manufacturers, it is thereby promoting the production of other products in the country as a way of boosting the country’s economy. Goods such as Rice were usually brought into the country, and this distorted the sales of locally made rice.
Since the close of the lander borders, Nigerians have resolved to purchase of local rice. Rice Mills has become active in different parts of the country, such as Onyx Rice Mill Bida, Abakeliki Rice Mill, Anambra Rice. Moreso, Nigeria, as a nation, is gradually moving back to Agriculture and not solely depend on Oil. Therefore it is making efforts to promote locally produced food and ensuring the safety and well being of its people, which would be achieved through the regulation of goods imported into the country by land borders.
Ghana Emulating Nigeria
It is a good thing to emulate what is right, and Ghana emulating Nigeria is a clear indication that the course to sufficiency will soon go round Africa. The Ghana government has put in place measures of revolution in the sector to ease essential importation commodities. Food production aims to create jobs and increase planting, to develop an irrigation scheme. However, Ghana hopes to achieve a status where every citizen consumes locally made Rice. Hence President Nana Akufo-Addo has revealed that from January 2020, all state Institutions would be required to buy made in Ghana produce.kingdomfmonline.com
Related: How Agriculture Has Grown in Africa
