Ghana to import 950 000 tonnes of rice in 2024/25: USDA
GHANA – Rice imports in Ghana are expected to increase by 20% in the 2024/2025 marketing year, reaching 950,000 tonnes, as the country faces a significant drop in domestic production caused by severe drought, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The USDA report highlights the devastating effects of a drought between July and August, which reduced cultivated rice areas in northern Ghana by over 16%, now estimated at 310,000 hectares.
Consequently, paddy harvests are projected to decrease by 21%, yielding 1 million tonnes, with milled rice production falling to 750,000 tonnes.
The decline in production, coupled with growing domestic consumption, has left Ghana increasingly reliant on imports to meet demand.
To safeguard domestic availability, the Ghanaian government imposed a ban on rice exports on August 26. Despite this move, demand continues to grow.
The USDA forecasts that domestic rice consumption will rise to 1.72 million tonnes in 2024/2025, up 20,000 tonnes from the previous year. Key drivers include population growth, urbanization, and the rapid expansion of the hospitality and food service industries.
Ghana sources most of its rice imports from Vietnam, India, China, and Thailand. This heavy reliance on international markets has significant economic implications.
In 2023, rice imports cost over 2.9 billion cedis (US$197.5 million), accounting for 11% of the total food import bill, which exceeded 26.7 billion cedis (US$1.8 billion), according to the Ghana Statistical Service.
“Rice imports are driven primarily by population growth and urbanization, as well as the rapid expansion of the hotel, restaurant, and food service sectors. A variety of rice qualities are imported, ranging from Thai and Vietnamese fragrant rice to long-grain rice from the United States, as well as 70 percent less expensive broken rice from other sources,” noted the USDA.
Local agricultural experts are calling for urgent measures to address the country’s dependence on imports and ensure food security. Proposed interventions include investments in irrigation infrastructure, the introduction of drought-resistant rice varieties, and enhanced support for smallholder farmers, who are pivotal to domestic production.
The Ministry of Food and Agriculture has pledged to expand its Planting for Food and Jobs initiative to boost agricultural productivity. Additionally, the government is exploring international partnerships to tackle climate challenges and strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s rice sector.
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