The Competitive African Rice Platform (CARP) Ghana has launched a three-year project aimed at boosting the competitiveness of Ghana’s rice sector through stronger market systems, improved coordination and increased private sector participation.
The project, titled “Anchoring CARP Ghana as the National Platform for Rice Sector Competitiveness,” seeks to position the organisation as the central coordinating body for stakeholders across the rice value chain while promoting inclusive growth and sustainable investment.
The initiative is being implemented with funding support from AGRA through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The project will cover major rice-producing regions across the country and is expected to directly benefit about 25,300 stakeholders, including 150 CARP Ghana member organisations made up of processors, traders, millers and service providers, as well as 150 small and medium-sized enterprises operating within the rice value chain.
It will also support 20,000 smallholder farmers linked to structured markets and provide targeted assistance to 5,000 women and youth entrepreneurs through inclusive business models.
In addition, about one million rice consumers are expected to benefit indirectly through improved product quality, branding and affordability.
Mr Victor Nantari, Market Systems Specialist at CARP Ghana, presenting the scope of the project during an inception workshop in Tamale, said the platform would adopt a market systems development approach focused on long-term transformation rather than direct service delivery.
He explained that the project would facilitate the development of a private sector-driven platform to promote inclusive and competitive market growth while strengthening the institutional capacity and financial sustainability of CARP Ghana.
Mr Nantari said the initiative would also institutionalise regular policy and business dialogue among government, private sector actors and farmer organisations to improve coordination and information flow within the rice sector.
He added that the project would establish a structured market engagement mechanism to deepen collaboration among market actors, operationalise a market intelligence system to guide investment decisions and strengthen business-to-business linkages.
Mr Habibu Mohammed Abdulai, the National Coordinator of CARP Ghana, said the initiative would strengthen CARP’s capacity to coordinate stakeholders across the rice value chain and position the organisation as a key advocate for policy alignment with regional frameworks such as the ECOWAS rice development strategy.
Meanwhile, CARP Ghana used the inception workshop to elect new executives and board members to steer the affairs of the platform.
Dr Charles Kwowe Nyaaba, a key stakeholder in the rice industry, underscored the importance of collective action in addressing challenges facing the sector.
He said the platform continued to play a crucial role in representing Ghana’s rice value chain at the regional level and facilitating capacity building, market linkages and advocacy for infrastructure investment.
Dr Nyaaba expressed optimism that the effective implementation of the project would significantly improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and rice millers across the country.
Ms Sepenica Darko, Team Lead at FarmerTribe, who represented the North East Regional Rice Value Chain Platform, also commended the initiative, saying it would help address long-standing challenges facing rice farmers, particularly in underserved regions.
She expressed confidence that the project would improve productivity, strengthen market access and enhance resilience across the rice value chain in Ghana.
