General Information
· Main climates: Tropical Wet and Dry, Tropical Wet
· Total land area: 22 754 000 ha
· Internal renewable water resources: 30.3 km3
· Incoming water flow: 22.9 km3
· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 1 735
· Main food consumed: Roots & tubers, Maize, Oil & fat, Fruits, Millet & sorghum
· Rice supply, 1999: 13.2 kg paddy/capita/year
Basic Statistics
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
RICE |
|
|
|
|
Harvested area (T ha) |
68.0 |
49.0 |
99.9 |
130.0 |
Yield (kg/ha) |
1176 |
1651 |
2019 |
1613 |
Production (T t) |
80.0 |
80.9 |
201.7 |
209.7 |
Imports (T t) |
60.0 |
113.0 |
106.0 |
NA |
Exports (t) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
NA |
OTHERS |
|
|
|
|
Population (M) |
12.9 |
15.1 |
17.6 |
NA |
Agr population (M) |
7.72 |
8.87 |
10.13 |
NA |
Irrigated agr area (T ha) |
7 |
8 |
11 |
NA |
Fertilizer cons (T t) |
12.50 |
13.00 |
9.70 |
NA |
Agr tractor in use (units) |
4120 |
4120 |
3700 |
NA |
Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons
The following table shows the harvested areas from different producing zones.
Production zone |
Harvested area (% total harvested area) |
Upper-east |
27.29 |
Northern |
26.40 |
Western |
12.81 |
Eastern |
10.68 |
Volta |
9.28 |
Ashanti |
4.21 |
Brong-Ahafo |
4.04 |
Upper-west |
3.56 |
GT Accra |
1.72 |
In irrigated areas a second rice-cropping season may take place.
Cropping season |
Planting |
Harvesting |
Main season |
5-6 |
10-11 |
Off season |
1-2 |
5-6 |
Production Practices
The following figure shows the harvested areas from different ecologies during the last five years.
Upland rice is grown as a mono-crop or as in a mixture with other food crops following the slash-and-burn shifting cultivation almost without any application of chemical fertilizer and other ago-chemical. Land preparation for lowland rice is done either manually or with animal traction. Transplanting is the main method of crop establishment in lowland systems. Farmers generally apply little fertilizer to rainfed lowland. However, moderate to high rates of inorganic fertilizers is usually applied to irrigated rice. Weeding is generally done manually, although the use of herbicides is increasing in irrigated rice. Farmers do not have adequate appropriate tools and equipment for harvesting and threshing of rice. A number of improved rice varieties have been released for cultivation.
Variety Name |
Released period |
Growth duration (days) |
ANDY 11 |
Irrigated |
NA |
IET 2885 |
Irrigated |
NA |
IR 3273-P339-2 |
Irrigated |
NA |
IR 8 |
Irrigated |
135-140 |
ITA 222 |
Irrigated |
120-125 |
TOX 725-1-8-201-1 |
Irrigated |
NA |
CICA 4 |
NA |
|
TOX 3108-56-4-2-2-2 |
Rainfed Lowland |
|
IR 442 2 58 |
Rainfed lowland |
135-140 |
4418 |
Upland |
125 |
BASOLOGO (C168) |
Upland |
NA |
DOURADAO PRECOCE |
Upland |
95-100 |
FARO 15 (GR21) |
Upland |
137 |
IR 42 |
Rainfed lowland |
135-140 |
The following table shows rice responses to fertilizer application.
Other information |
Test range (kg/ha) |
Control rate (kg/ha) |
Control yield (t/ha) |
Rate at Maximum yield (kg/ha) |
Maximum yield (t/ha) |
Nitrogen (N) |
|||||
Reported in 1996, Besease, rainfed lowland |
0-90 |
2.5 |
0 |
4.8 |
90 |
Reported in 1996, Aframso, rainfed lowland |
0-90 |
2 |
0 |
3.7 |
90 |
Reported in 1996, Yepiligu, rainfed lowland |
0-90 |
2.9 |
0 |
3.8 |
90 |
Reported in 63, Forest, swamp, rainfed lowland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.79 |
22.4 |
1.04 |
Reported in 63, Forest, Upland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.53 |
22.4 |
0.67 |
Reported in 63, Forest savannah, Upland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.88 |
22.4 |
1.09 |
Phosphorus (P2O5) |
|||||
Reported in 1996, Besease, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2.5 |
60 |
3.9 |
Reported in 1996, Aframso, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2 |
60 |
3.4 |
Reported in 1996, Yepiligu, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2.9 |
60 |
3.5 |
Reported in 1996, Besease, with 90 kgN + 60 kgK/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
5.1 |
60 |
6.8 |
Reported in 1996, Aframso with 90 N + 60 K kg/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
4.3 |
60 |
5.6 |
Reported in 1996, Yepiligu, with 90 N + 60 K kg/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
3.8 |
60 |
5.8 |
Reported in 63, Forest, Rainfed lowland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.79 |
22.4 |
0.99 |
Reported in 63, Forest hill, Upland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.53 |
22.4 |
0.57 |
Reported in 63, Forest savannah, Upland |
0-22.4 |
0 |
0.88 |
22.4 |
1.18 |
Potassium (kg K2O) |
|||||
Reported in 1996, Besease, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2.5 |
60 |
3.3 |
Reported in 1996, Aframso, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2 |
60 |
3 |
Reported in 1996, Yepiligu, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
2.9 |
60 |
2.4 |
Reported in 1996, Besease, with 90 kgN + 60 kgP/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
5.7 |
60 |
6.8 |
Reported in 1996, Aframso with 90 N + 60 P kg/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
4.5 |
60 |
5.6 |
Reported in 1996, Yepiligu, with 90 N + 60 P kg/ha, Rainfed lowland |
0-60 |
0 |
3.5 |
60 |
5.8 |
Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production
There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Ghana. Following are the majors:
Drought in upland areas and drought and flash flood in rainfed lowland (or inland swamp) areas due to irregular weather
Lack of suitable varieties for irrigated and rainfed lowland (or swamp) areas
Inadequate and Irregular input supplies: seeds, fertilizer and credit
Lack of small farm equipment especially for post harvest operations
Lack of effective farmer's organization and co-operative
Poor maintenance of irrigation facilities
Lack of well-defined rice policies
Poor road networks and marketing systems
Labour shortage due to competition from other crops
Weak research and extension support
Sustainable rice production depends greatly on appropriate policy to provide farmers with support in inputs supply and marketing of products. The improvement and development of lowland rice with improved water control and supply would be essential.
Research and Development Institutes
· Agricultural Research Station, University of Ghana, P.O. Box 9, Kpong 3, Ghana.
· Crop Services Directorate, Ministry of Agriculture, P.O. Box M37, Accra, Tel.: (233) 21 687246, Fax: (233) 21 660567
· Crops Research Institute Agricultural Research Station Bunso, P.O. Box 7, Bunso Phone: 6221
· Crops Research Institute, Plant Genetic Resources Unit P.O. Box 3785 Academy Post Office Kumasi, Ashanti Phone: 6221 Telex: 3036 BTH 10 GH Fax: (223) 514132
· Crops Research Institute, P.O. Box 3785 Kumasi, Ghana, Tel.: (051) 60389/60391/60425, Fax: 60142
· Crops Research Institute, Valley Bottom Rice Programme, Tel.: (051) 60389/60391/60425, Fax:
· Ghana Seed Co. Ltd. P.O. Box 7, Trade Fair Site, Accra, Phone: 65367
· Ministry of Agriculture P.O. Box M-37 Accra, Phone: (021) 665421 Telex: 2001 STAR GH Fax: (233-21) 668245
· Nyankpala Agricultural Experiment Station P.O. Box 52, Nyankpala, Via Tamale
· PPMED Ministry of Food and Agriculture, P.O. Box M37, Accra
· Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, P.O.Box 52, Tamale, Tel.:(233) 71-22411/23465, Fax: (233) 71-23483
· University of Ghana Agricultural Research Station, P.O. Box 9 Kpong, E.R. Phone: Kpong 3 Telex: 2556 UGL GH
· University of Ghana Department of Botany P.O. Box 55 Legon Phone: 75381
· University of Science and Technology Faculty of Agriculture, University Post Office Kumasi, Phone: 5351 Telex: 2555 USI GH