Ghana Targets Rice Self-Sufficiency by 2028 With $19M Grant

For years, Ghana has spent half a billion dollars annually importing rice to feed its people, but that's about to change.

The African Development Bank just approved an $18.8 million grant to help Ghana achieve complete rice self-sufficiency within two years. The funding will support over 20,000 smallholder farmers through a project called REWARD, which stands for Regional West Africa Resilient Rice Value Chains Development Project.

Right now, Ghana only produces about 56% of the rice its people eat. The rest comes from overseas at a steep price.

Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku says the country has already made impressive progress, boosting milled rice production from 650,000 tonnes in 2024 to 960,000 tonnes in 2025. But meeting full demand means reaching 3.31 million metric tonnes of paddy rice by 2028.

The REWARD project will develop 3,200 hectares of farmland in Ghana's Northern Savannah Ecological Zone. Farmers will receive modern equipment including rice transplanters, mini combine harvesters, and boom sprayers to make their work more efficient.

The grant also addresses a critical problem: post-harvest losses. Ten rice-processing centers will get new equipment, and hermetic storage facilities will help farmers preserve their crops instead of watching them spoil.

Yields are expected to jump from 3.5 to 4.5 metric tonnes per hectare, meaning farmers will harvest more rice from the same amount of land. That's a 28% increase in productivity that could transform rural incomes.

The Ripple Effect

This isn't just about rice on dinner tables. When Ghana stops importing rice, that $500 million stays in the country, flowing to local farmers instead of foreign suppliers.

The project connects farmers directly with markets and private businesses, creating stable income opportunities in rural communities. Seed centers will get cleaning equipment to ensure quality, while better storage means farmers can sell when prices are favorable instead of rushing to offload crops before they spoil.

More than 20,000 farming families will see direct benefits, but the impact spreads wider. Processing centers need workers. Transport companies move the harvest. Local economies grow when money circulates close to home.

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture plans to launch REWARD in early November, just in time for the 2027 farming season. That gives Ghana two full growing cycles to hit its 2028 target.

From spending millions on imports to feeding itself, Ghana is writing a new story about African food security.