Japan commits to offer technical support to Ghana to boost rice production

Ghana and Japan commit to agreement

By Emmanuel Akyereko

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has disclosed that Japan has committed to offer Ghana technical support to boost rice production in the West African nation.

The Minister made the announcement after holding a bilateral engagement with the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Suzuki Momoko and Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ghana.

The sector Minister further disclosed that Ghana will explore more partnerships including scaling up our chocolate exports to Japan considering the ever increasing popular Japanese demand for Ghana Chocolate.

Japan has an international reputation for rice production and exportation to many foreign countries including some African countries.

In 2022, Japan produced approximately 7.27 million tons of rice, with a high self-sufficiency ratio of nearly 100%, and the government aims to increase rice exports sevenfold by 2030.

Meanwhile, Ghana’s domestic rice production, both paddy and milled, has been on an increasing trend since 2011, with the volume of rice produced reaching nearly 1.23 million metric tons in 2021, the highest quantity registered since 2010.

Ghana and Japan have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with both countries exchanging numerous cultural, educational and technological products.