According to them, government must set the pace by buying locally grown rice for the ordinary Ghanaian to follow.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QqGB8klYIcvvu3sNL3MqG70Bi5CvMlUa”]Speaking at a National Rice Standards and Certification Workshop, the president for GRIB, Imoro Amoro, said the sector could employ many Ghanaians if made in Ghana rice is highly patronized.

“We want to appeal to the government to use its purchasing power to procure made in Ghana rice for all government agencies especially the prisons and schools benefiting from the school feeding programme. This will create jobs and strengthen the country’s economy by saving over five hundred million dollars used in importing rice annually.”

Mr. Imoro urged stakeholders to cash in as the local rice business expands.

“There is the need for stakeholders to take advantage of the huge potentials available in the rice value chain. Intensification of production through transplanting (SRI) and the use of good quality seed hold the potential for -increased incomes for farmers. Ensuring good processing methods such as cleaning and de-stoning must be adhered to for good quality rice to be produced and well packaged to meet standards and be competitive with the imported rice.”

He also praised Citi FM for its tremendous input in promoting made in Ghana rice, saying “we also want to commend the media especially Citi FM for always supporting the agenda of Eat Ghana Rice and patronage of our local products. I will also take the opportunity to seek for sponsorship from our partners, rice producers and marketers, the corporate body for “Eat Ghana Rice Campaign and this year’s Ghana Rice Festival in November.”

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Use local rice for school feeding programme – Group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The company in a statement copied to citifmonline.com said all of its products are subjected to series of quality control checks before distributed unto the market.

It said their products have been duly certified by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), after passing the various tests for quality rice.

A video that has gone viral on social media suggests that Cindy rice is made of artificially manufactured grains or plastic, but according to the company the allegations are false.

“It has come to the notice of the company of the circulation of certain videos and communication via social media purporting to show that Cindy rice is artificially manufactured grains of plastic or rubber.”

“Royal Bow is a company that prides itself in offering proper nutrition from its products and has subjected the full range of its products to scrutiny and tests by the Food and Drugs Authority and the Ghana Standards Board. Products from Royal Bow have passed all these tests and are fully certified by all relevant regulatory bodies.”

The Company explained that, the rice “is milled, processed, packaged and shipped with strict adherence to quality and protocol that ensures that every batch is inspected and approved.”

‘Ignore reports of ‘plastic rice’ on market – FDA’

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in reaction to a similar video recently said the rumours described as untruth, reports of the influx of some fake rice purported to be ‘plastic rice’ on the Ghanaian market.

The Public Relations Officer of the FDA, James Lartey, indicated that the authority’s investigations across the country have shown no trace of such ‘plastic rice’ on the market.

He however suggested the possibility of the allegations emanating from the competitors in the rice retail market, but urged the public to report to the FDA if they indeed come across it.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @jnyabor

The post Cindy Rice has no plastic grains – Distributors appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It is expected that some 5,000 farmers and other workers will be employed with about 20,000 people benefiting directly and indirectly.

A colourful ceremony attended by District Agricultural Officers, chiefs and farmers was held on Tuesday, at the premises of the Mill in Worawora in the Volta region.

In an address, Dr. Nduom noted that, it was a great day for Worawora and Ghana, adding that the operations of the Mill will make the town more popular in Ghana.

He added that, his conglomerate [from media to financial services to industry] is known in the region, and that key managers hail from the area, making GN part of the region.

“The people of Volta region are hardworking people and are experts in their respective fields. They will make this Mill work,” he said.

He lamented that Ghana spends $1.2 billion on rice importation.

“Imagine the jobs and development we are giving to America, Vietnam and Thailand. Our example should encourage other investors to emulate our example and in 4 to 5 years, all the $1.2 billion will stay in Ghana for roads, hospitals, schools and in the pockets of farmers.”

Dr. Nduom urged the workers to take their work seriously and announced that farmers will be readily paid for their produce with life insurance packages.
He encouraged other people to invest in the sector.

Managing Director at Ghana Growth Fund Company (GGFC,) the investing arm of GN, Kwame Asomaning, in a welcome address explained that, GN now owns a major stake in the factory and therefore has plans of expanding to other parts of the sub-region.

He indicated that, the factory will provide employment and support for local farmers in the Volta and Northern regions.

Mr. Asomaning urged Ghanaians to buy the Edwumawura Rice since after harvest will be ready on the market in a fortnight for consumption; rather than the sometimes 10-year-old imported rice.

“Ghana has 580,000 acres of land that can produce 1.7 million tonnes of rice to feed the entire country so why import? We borrowed $940 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) yet send $1.2 billion outside for rice importation. This is not sound economics,” he lamented.

Owner of Afariwa Farms and former Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) President, Nana Owusu Afari, in an address said that, the day marks the beginning of wealth creation for rice farmers in the area, adding that Ghana has all the resources to create wealth, hence if the people are self-sufficient, there will be little or no need for state interventions.

The entrepreneur and traditional leader disclosed that, the new investors will also build the capacity of the rice farmers.

A representative of the farmers, Seth Kwame Darko, pledged that they will feed the Mill with quality rice following capacity building given them by the Ministry of Agriculture and some foreign development partners.

He highlighted undeveloped lands and lack of machinery as some of the challenges they face.

Dr. Nduom will break ground for the construction of another mill at Assin Bereku in the Central region on Thursday, November 3, 2016.
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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nduom opens Worawora Rice Mill in V/Region; thousands to benefit [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.