Issue paper
Rice value chain in Ghana – Prospective analysis and strategies for sustainable and pro-poor growth
Based on past experience of partnership on support to National Rice Development Strategies (NRDS) within Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), AfricaRice and FAO decided to conduct a series of rice policy reviews for Ghana, Ivory Coast and Mali in 2019. The following study uses the Ex-ante Carbon-balance Value Chain tool (EX-ACT VC), developed in 2016 by FAO, to assess the Ghanaian rice value chain’s environmental (in terms of climate mitigation and climate resilience) and socio-economic impact for a business as usual scenario in 2020 compared to a growth scenario for 2030.
Promotion of good agricultural practices (GAP), the reduction of crop losses, and an increase in the use of inputs and mechanization are the different strategies considered in this study that would help in realizing the aim of self-sufficiency.
Through the implementation of these practices, along with the expansion of rice growing areas, the income per day of work per farmer would increase by more than USD 4, reaching approx. USD 9/day of work in the value chain. The gross production value of the rice value chain would reach USD 856 million, which is an additional USD 511 million in gross production value by 2030. An upgraded rice value chain would also result in an increase in the value added by USD 378 million by 2030 with an overall positive carbon balance that would emit 284 852 tCO2-e of greenhouse gas emissions.