Minister Quashigah, Where is the Rice?

A local newspaper - Accra Daily Mail (ADM) - has over the past month been visiting the central business district of Accra to find out how the local rice is doing against the imported varieties. Throughout the month, the traders have given the same answer, "We are not getting it to buy.

Following the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Major Courage Quashigah's optimistic statement on Tuesday that imports had reduced by 15 percent, ADM yesterday visited some wholesale and retail stores at the trading centre of Okaishie in Accra to ascertain that the locally-produced rice, is truly available as officials say and is only waiting for patronage.

Most of the stores did not have any of locally-produced rice on display and neither did they have it stocked.

All the people interviewed had the same story to tell. They said the rice was unavailable because their suppliers had stopped giving it to them. They said since the beginning of the year, they have not been supplied with local rice.

They conceded that the rice is of the same quality as imported rice and the grain of comparable quality.

Mr. Punni Mensah, of P & H Mensah Limited, a wholesaler, told ADM that, 'the locally-produced rice could be among the best and become competitive on the world market if, they are seasoned or dried for a number of years before being sold. He said when rice is not seasoned before it is marketed, the grains contain too much starch, making the product less tasteful and it cannot expand when cooked.

He appealed to the government to assist farmers with long-term loans, so that they can store their rice for a number of years and stop selling it immediately after harvesting.

He said he tried to season his rice for at least a year before selling it and it had really worked well for him.

Mr. Mensah said, most traders support the government's initiative for Ghanaians to patronize made in Ghana goods, especially rice. He said because of that, when the government increased the tax on imported rice and intends to reduce the volume of imported rice into the country by 30% by the end of its first term in office, most of the rice sellers did not make noise about it.

Rather, "it is the Ghanaian consumers who are complaining about the increase, because it has made it very expensive to buy rice, but we can do nothing to arrest the case as at now".

He said, " I would be very grateful if Ghana can produce more local rice to feed its own people and export some to our neighboring countries to boost the national economy." He said this would create employment for the youth as well.

He recommended that the government should meet farmers and traders to discuss the way forward for locally produced rice.

Another trader said there is the need for the government to create more awareness about the local product, and build public confidence in it. It can subsequently reduce the price as the people begin to accept the product.

They recalled that after the launching of some Ghanaian rice on the market last year, most people were interested in it and anxious to buy, but supply remained low.

Some of the traders said they would not stock local rice because it is poorly packaged and poorly labelled. This said this contributes to low patronage. Others complained of poor processing of grains, high prices and the taste of some locally produced rice.

Mr. Dan Adjei, of Dankosa Ghana Limited, a wholesaler, said, "Ghanaians buy things from the outside before they take a look at what is inside."

He complained that the locally produced rice is not well patronized because with some, the broken grains are too many and also variety grains are mixed and packaged as one.

He said, sellers have a hectic time to convincing their customers to patronize the 'made in Ghana' rice.

He said whiles the imported rice is given to them on credit basis, "the producers of the local rice would want their money on the spot".

He however appreciated the government's intention to cut down rice importation, and said, "in the end, it would help every Ghanaian".

Senyo Bedi-Fiatuse, Stallion Industries and Investment, had this suggestion, "Government should publish the names of accredited companies and agencies responsible for selling local rice so that wholesalers would know where to get it and help promote it as well".

He however disagreed with the government decision to cut down the volume of imported rice because, "what is produced in Ghana here cannot meet the demand of the people".

He said while the government reduces rice importation, it must increase local rice production and supply otherwise there will be a shortage.

Overall, there is the need to look at the supply and marketing of local rice is the 30 percent reduction in imported rice is to be achieved by 2004.