Given the fixation of a large section of Ghanaians on aromatic rice, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) is proposing a tailored local solution to meet the needs of consumers while reducing the country’s rice importation.
In a country where the sweet scent of aromatic rice often signals a special meal, from a Sunday feast to a festive gathering, through to a family celebration, IFS says any solution must take into account the taste buds of Ghanaians.
Most of that fragrant rice isn’t grown here. It’s imported, draining millions of dollars every year that could instead be nourishing our own farmers.
The think tank believes its proposed Ghana Rice Development Board (RDB) should not only focus on high-yielding rice varieties but should also directly produce, distribute, and market aromatic rice seeds for farmers to cultivate.
The goal is to make Ghana’s local rice smell just as good as the ones imported from Thailand or India to win local consumers and eventually, to make the country a net exporter of rice.
For years, one of the biggest barriers to local rice consumption has been taste and aroma. Many consumers say imported rice smells better and cooks more evenly. But if local farmers are equipped with the right aromatic rice seeds, those with the same fragrance and texture that Ghanaians love, they can compete not just in yield, but in quality and preference.
“RDB (Rice Development Board) should also make sure that it directly produces, distributes and markets aromatic rice seeds to farmers for cultivation, as a means of substituting for imported aromatic rice,” IFS indicated.
It added, “If locally developed aromatic rice does not serve as a perfect substitute for imported aromatic rice, the relevant seeds can be imported by RDB and marketed to rice farmers for cultivation.”
Locally produced aromatic rice to the taste of Ghanaians would mean less foreign exchange spent on imports and more jobs in the value chain, from seed breeders and farmers to millers and marketers.
In fact, the IFS suggests that if Ghana’s RDB cannot yet develop perfect substitutes for imported aromatic rice, it should import the seeds itself and make them available to farmers to cultivate domestically.
The ripple effect could be huge. Rice farmers cultivating high-grade aromatic rice for the market will create opportunities for local millers to refine it for export. Ghanaian-branded aromatic rice taking up supermarket shelves would be a good step towards becoming a net exporter of rice.
However, farmers will need training on handling aromatic rice varieties, irrigation systems must be reliable, and local marketers must make sure packaging and branding can stand toe-to-toe with the polished imports.
