UNDP, Ghana convene first steering committee for climate-smart rice project
The initiative aims to transform rice production in Ghana through climate-smart and resource-efficient farming methods, as part of broader efforts to address climate change and enhance food security.
GHANA – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Ghana have convened the inaugural Steering Committee meeting for the Promotion of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices for Sustainable Rice Cultivation Project (AWD Rice Project), marking a governance milestone in modernizing rice production and accessing global carbon finance.
Held recently in Accra, the session established oversight for this Ghana-Switzerland-UNDP initiative under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, focusing on Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) techniques to slash methane emissions from paddy fields.
The technique allows rice fields to dry intermittently rather than remain continuously flooded, improving water-use efficiency, reducing methane emissions, and lowering production costs while maintaining or, in some cases, increasing yields for farmers.
The committee unites government agencies, farmer organizations, research institutions, and development partners to approve budgets, monitor progress, mitigate risks, and scale AWD nationwide.
By 2030, the project targets 11,000 farmers across 242,600 hectares, covering 78-80% of Ghana’s rice lands, aiming to avoid an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions while generating carbon credits for farmer income and national revenue.
The inception meeting brought together stakeholders, including the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), the Ghana Rice Inter-professional Body, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Savanna Agriculture Research Institute (CSIR-SARI)7.
Launched in September 2025, the AWD method reduces water use by 30%, boosts yields by 20-30%, and cuts production costs, addressing Ghana’s 950,000-tonne rice import bill that strains foreign reserves.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdul-Razak Saeed, Head of Environment and Climate at UNDP Ghana, underscored the importance of strong governance in delivering credible climate outcomes, noting that climate-smart solutions such as AWD offer Ghana a practical pathway to reduce emissions while strengthening farmer livelihoods.
Discussions covered Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems, field demos, and social/environmental safeguards for inclusive delivery.
Aligned with Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the project positions the country as a leader in climate-smart agriculture, fostering resilience amid erratic rains and supporting food security for millions reliant on rice.
It builds investor confidence through robust governance, paving the way for Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) purchased by Switzerland.
By its conclusion, participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to the project, recognizing that the AWD Rice Project is a model for how global cooperation, anchored in local realities, can deliver climate benefits while advancing Ghana’s agricultural and development priorities.
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