Background
A delegation of Ghanaian rice value chain stakeholders have successfully completed a study tour to the Africa Rice Research Center in M’bé, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Initiative
It is aimed at strengthening technological innovation and quality control systems in Ghana’s rice sector.
This is an initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), under a collaborative project to advance agro-business competitiveness in Ghana.
The initiative marks a significant step toward sustainable value creation in the post-harvest processes of the rice value chain.
Africa Rice is a leading research institution committed to improving rice production, quality, and food security across the continent.
Composition of delegation
The delegation, comprising officials from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Standards Authority, and the Food Research Institute, gained hands-on experience with the innovative GEM rice parboiling technology. This technology improves the physical and nutritional quality of rice while addressing post-harvest challenges.
The After-effect
Key outcomes of the project include the sharing of technical documents on GEM technology, field visits to rice processing sites, and discussions on introducing the Orylux6 rice variety to Ghana.
Building partnerships
The tour also strengthened connections between Ghanaian and Ivorian stakeholders, paving the way for future collaborations.
The study tour emphasized the critical role of regional collaboration in advancing food security, nutrition, and value creation in Africa's rice sector.
The Next Move
Moving forward, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will facilitate technology transfer and collaborative efforts between the Africa Rice Research Center and Ghanaian stakeholders.
The move will introduce and scale up the GEM parboiling technology and Orylux6 rice variety to enhance Ghana’s rice value chain and boost the country’s agro-business competitiveness.