Ghana - Inland Valleys Rice Development Project

The Inland Valleys Rice Development Project aims to increase the production of rice and the incomes for smallholder rice producers, traders and processors in its area and neighbouring areas. It also contributes to increased domestic milled rice production estimated at about 13,000 tonnes per year starting in Year 5. Hence, the project should contribute to foreign exchange savings valued at about US$ 3.7 million per annum. Increased production induced by the project will lead to increased employment and income generation opportunities. The project should also make provision for HIV/AIDS and Family Planning campaigns, and the prevention of malaria in the project area. It has five main components, which are Land Management, Credit for Crop Development, Capacity Building, Adaptive Research and Surveys, and Project Co-ordination. The main outputs of the project are: development of 4,500 ha rice cultivation; improvement of 280 km of access roads and field tracks; provision of UA4.9 million credit for farm inputs and equipment; training of beneficiaries and technical staff; development of rice agronomic packages and technologies; and strengthen project co-ordination.