A GH¢7.243 million rice processing plant at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District of the Bono Region has been left idle due to inadequate supply of locally produced paddy to sustain its operations.
The facility, established in July 2021, was intended to support local rice farmers, increase processing capacity and help reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported rice.
However, the plant is currently not operational, with weeds reportedly overgrowing parts of its premises.
Plant has capacity to process up to 2.8 tonnes per hour
The facility is fitted with modern equipment capable of processing between 1.5 and 2.8 tonnes of rice per hour.
It also has the capacity to mill and sort rice to meet quality standards comparable to imported rice.
However, the lack of adequate locally produced paddy has prevented the facility from operating at its intended capacity.
Rice farmers in the district have attributed the low production to limited access to farm inputs, machinery and capital.
According to the farmers, many depend on loans from individuals to finance their operations. In some cases, lenders take portions of the harvested rice as repayment at the end of the farming season.
The farmers say the arrangement leaves them with little capital to invest in the next farming season, making it difficult to expand their farms and produce enough paddy for the processing plant.
Farmers appeal for government support
The farmers are therefore appealing to the government to provide modern farming machinery, improved rice seeds, nets, chemicals and financial support to increase rice production in the area.
Member of Parliament for the area, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, has also called for increased government investment in local rice production to provide the plant with the raw materials needed to operate.
According to him, the facility could supply quality locally processed rice to institutions, particularly Senior High Schools in the Bono Region, while helping reduce the country’s reliance on imported rice.
Government extends Dɔ Bi Di initiative to rice farmers
Meanwhile, the Director of Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture and Agribusiness at the Office of the President, Dr Peter Boamah Otokunor, says the government is extending the Dɔ Bi Di farming initiative to rice farmers in the area.
He said the initiative would support farmer groups with improved seeds, machinery and other inputs to increase paddy production and ensure a steady supply of raw materials to the processing plant.
Dr Otokunor explained that the programme is particularly targeted at smallholder farmers who often struggle to access credit because they lack the required collateral.
According to him, the initiative provides support at various stages of rice production to help farmers increase their output and improve their economic independence.
Farmers hope plant will be revived
For farmers in Dormaa West, the success of the initiative could determine whether the Nkrankwanta rice processing plant returns to full operation.
They believe reviving the facility would not only prevent the GH¢7.243 million investment from remaining idle but also create a reliable market for local farmers, boost rice production in the district and contribute to efforts to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imported rice.
