Cooperative rice farmers in Adelakope-Somenya, an Eastern Region farming community, are seeking urgent support to address challenges ranging from weed and pest management to navigating market dynamics.
The farmers called on stakeholders to explore solutions that could increase local rice production and reduce Ghana‘s reliance on imports during a working visit by the Environment, Science, and Technology Committee of Parliament and the Climate Change Caucus on Sunday.
The visit aimed to assess methane emissions associated with rice production while highlighting the efforts of Ghana’s rice farmers and government agencies to address climate change and promote sustainable agricultural practices.
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Among solutions being considered, farmers proposed partnering with investors to support farming activities, improving access to machinery and technology to reduce losses and boost efficiency, and advocating for government interventions to strengthen domestic production.
“If the government can put in much money or put in machines that will make farming easier, it will help us to increase yield and quality, and we will be capable of supplying our country,” said Mr Mathias Kwetey, a rice farmer and harvester operator.
Daniel Affum Teye, Chief of Adelakope, stressed the benefits of investing in local rice production: higher yields and quality would reduce imports, save foreign exchange, and create employment opportunities for youth.
“We need to support our local rice farmers so that we can produce enough rice for our country,” he said.
Dr Kwabena Asuobonteng, a landscape ecologist and lecturer at the University of Development Studies, Nyankpala, highlighted the environmental implications. “Methane has a significant global warming potential, 28 times that of carbon dioxide. When Ghana makes gains in methane reduction, it will indicate a substantial contribution to mitigating global warming,” he said.
Dr Asuobonteng noted that a project led by the Environmental Protection Authority and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture aims to help 11,000 farmers produce rice with lower methane emissions while increasing yields and generating carbon credits.
The initiative has already engaged 8,000 farmers, with 500 nearing carbon benefit eligibility. “Any impact we make on methane leads to a faster reduction of global warming. We must continue to support initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture practices,” he added.
Mr Dickson Kyere-Duah, NDC Member of Parliament for Berekum West and Committee member, said with proper investments and policies, Ghana’s rice farmers could thrive while enhancing food security.
“We need to produce rice in a modern technological manner that incorporates methane reduction and mitigation measures. This will not only ensure food security, but also protect our environment,” he said.
He urged the promotion of environmentally friendly farming practices, including improved water management techniques that reduce methane production, enabling a more climate-resilient agricultural sector.
