New technology helps rice farmers increase yield

Tamale, Sept. 10, GNA- Twenty rice millers from four districts in the Northern Region have ended a four-day milling technology workshop aimed at boosting the local rice industry. The workshop organised by the Lowland Rice Development Project of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, brought together rice millers from the Tamale Metropolis, Savelugu/Nanton, Tolon/Kumbungu and West Gonja Districts.

Mr Emmanuel Tetteh-Bio, Project Manager of the Lowland Rice Development Project said in the past four years, his outfit has trained and supported 2,407 rice farmers within its operating areas in the region through a new technology to raise their yields from a tonne per hectare of land to an average of three tonnes per hectare. He said the Project has also educated 306 women rice processors to improve upon the quality of their produce so that their milled rice now sells at 25 percent higher than before.

"The quality of the rice from these women processors can be further enhanced with improvement in milling technology, hence this four-day intensive training programme", he said.

Mr Tetteh-Bio told the millers that if they put the knowledge they have acquired at the workshop into practice, they will not only attract more women rice processing customers to their mills but also have a more efficient performance of their rice milling machinery and equipment. "You should also note that by faithfully practising this new knowledge, you will enhance the businesses of your rice processing customers, who in turn, will provide more ready and attractive markets to rice farmers", he said.

He assured the millers of future benefit from the Project's financial scheme with the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) to enhance their businesses.

"You may also in the future, be invited to site your mills in the 'Group Rice Processing Centres, which will be created to improve the mass production of good quality rice by the women processors for commercial buyers", he said.

Mr Tetteh-Bio said the Project, which is a pilot scheme and collaboration between the Ghana and French governments will be replicated in other parts of the country if it proves successful. He said the project initiated in 1999, was expected to end by October, this year. However, negotiations were ongoing for a second phase to be launched next year.

Mr Adam Zakaria, a consultant to the Project in charge of processing and marketing, said the 306 women processors have received a 1.5 million-cedis loan each payable within six months, to buy paddy rice for processing.

He said loan recovery rate has been very encouraging adding that recovery has been as high as 98 per cent in some instances. 12 Sept. 03