The Commercial Rice Growers Alliance Ghana (CRAG) has called for a renewed national effort to prioritise the production and consumption of locally grown rice in both public procurement and households.
The alliance, which represents commercial rice farmers and other value chain stakeholders nationwide, noted that Ghana spends over US$500 million each year on rice imports, despite major improvements in local production capacity and product quality.
In a statement issued over the weekend, CRAG lamented that imported rice continues to dominate local markets, hotels, restaurants, and public institutions, putting Ghanaian farmers at a disadvantage and undermining the country’s economic resilience.
According to the alliance, continued dependence on imported rice depletes foreign exchange reserves, weakens rural livelihoods, and discourages private sector investment in local agriculture.
CRAG said Ghana now has a strategic opportunity to build on recent progress by turning the slogan “Eat Ghana Rice” into a national movement that shapes consumer choices and institutional purchasing habits.
To drive this transformation, the alliance is urging the government to adopt and enforce a Local Rice Procurement Policy that requires public institutions, including the School Feeding Programme, security agencies, health facilities, and educational institutions to buy Ghana-grown rice.
It also encouraged the state to lead nationwide campaigns promoting the quality, nutritional value, and versatility of locally produced rice, while introducing gradual import-reduction measures to protect domestic producers.
CRAG further called on private companies, supermarkets, hotels, and restaurants to partner with local rice producers and integrate Ghana rice into their supply chains, helping to boost visibility and demand across the economy.
The alliance described consuming locally produced rice as both a patriotic and economically beneficial act. By choosing Made-in-Ghana rice, CRAG said, consumers support rural employment, stimulate agribusiness growth, conserve foreign exchange, and strengthen food security and national pride.
Reaffirming its commitment to the sector, CRAG said it will continue working with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, private investors, and development partners to enhance quality, competitiveness, and market reach under the theme: “Ghana Rice, Ghana Pride – Eat Local, Build National Prosperity.”
