Local rice farmers have called on the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, to, as a matter of urgency, subsidise prices of inputs to boost production towards safeguarding against the excessive importation of poultry products.
The Association wants the government to subsidise farm inputs in rice production to enhance productivity and boost the economy.
Mr. Paul Agyemang aka Bush, Chairman of Mfensi Rice Sellers Association and a farmer and Miller in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti Region, who made the appeal to the government, noted that Ghanaians had developed an appetite for the local rice due to its nutritious content, hence, the need to support the local farmers to deliver.
Mr. Agyemang commended the government for policies to encourage Ghanaians to go into rice production, but stressed that more needed to be done.
Mr. Agyemang indicated that, the local rice industry was important in creating jobs for the youth, as well as boosting local poultry and livestock production as source of feed, as most of them could not afford foreign feeds.
The local rice farmers mentioned that the high cost of farm inputs, including equipment, fertilisers and seed was a major challenge.
