The Asian African Consortium (AAC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Cape Coast (UCC) to undertake research to boost rice, maize and soya production in the country.
The CEO of the AAC, Adelaide Araba Siaw Agyepong, at the signing ceremony in Accra noted that the agreement will facilitate AAC’s collaboration with the UCC research institutes across Ghana to deepen research and development for social change, deal with challenges for economic growth and development.
Mrs Araba Siaw Agyepong further added that it will also facilitate the establishment of a research and development consortium comprising of business, crop science, technology, agriculture engineering, chemical engineering, as a standing committee to advise on the full value chain in rice, maize, soya and the production of other staples.
“Again, this arrangement will facilitate the establishment of a seedling centre for the commercial production of seedlings for sale to farmers. The AAC’s integrated rice project is to make Ghana self-sufficient in rice production resulting in significant economic benefit for the country.”
Mrs Araba Siaw Agyepong
The AAC CEO noted that the partnership is crucial for increasing collaboration and boosting Ghana’s economy.
Mrs Siaw Ageypong, who was particularly pleased with the arrangement between the two institutions, is hopeful that the MoU will pave way for many other collaborations between the two institutions.
Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, noted that the University has a specialised training for students to become entrepreneurs and self-sufficient and also can create jobs for others. “We also focus on empowering our students with competences to succeed in life” he said.
Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong lamented that though Ghana has abundant resources and arable land, it still imports food which can be produced locally.
“It is very sad that Ghanaians have to import from other countries to feed ourselves yet there are countries with no arable lands who have found ways to produce food locally and even export.”
Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong
The University Is Fully Behind the Project
The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, asserted that the university is fully behind the project, noting that the University in its small way of complementing efforts to curb importation has acquired a 450 acre of land for agricultural purposes.
Executive chairman of Jospong Group, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, in a brief remarks noted that agriculture and research must go hand in hand to ensure that the country derives its full benefits.
Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong noted that rice is now a staple food in Ghana and initiatives must be taken to produce quality and the needed quantity backed by research. However, he stressed that this cannot be achieved without the academia.
Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong encouraged the University to ensure that they come up with seedlings that can withstand the Ghanaian conditions as well as produce the needed yields for maximum benefits. “We have the knowledge and resources to see this through, therefore you have no excuse not to perform” he reminded the academia.
It can be recalled that last year, Asian African Consortium entered partnership with major rice industry players in Thailand and Ghana to develop an integrated rice farming project. This move by Jospong Group stemmed from the government’s decision to boost the economy through import substitution.
A core team later visited Thailand for the Ghana-Thailand Business conference in March 2023 with researchers from various universities in Ghana as well as major players in the rice industry.
Rice is a major cereal consumed in all the regions of the country. Ghana spent over GHC6.8 billion (equivalent to US$560 million at current market rates) importing rice, a grain that can be produced locally.
While total rice consumption stood at 1.4 million metric tonnes in 2022, imports valued at US$560 million accounted for 800,000 metric tonnes (mt) of the consumption figure, with domestic production catering for the remaining demand – according to data from IDH Sustainable Trade, a foundation headquartered in The Netherlands.
Similarly, according to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, between 2010 and 2020 the country’s rice imports hit a staggering US$8billion. This, in addition to imports of other food items that can be produced locally, has been a major source of concern for stakeholders.
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